Mesoscale deformation and cracking of surface-hardened low carbon steel

Mesoscale deformation patterns of surface-hardened low-carbon steel is investigated by using the television-optical measuring technique (TOMSC-1). Surface hardening was performed by diffusion borating to produce a hardened layer with a heterogeneous structure. Plastic flow at the mesoscale level was observed for primary mesovolume in the form of triangular prism. Self-organization of neighboring primary mesovolume gives rise to formation specimen macrostructure. At certain thickness of borated layer, the tensile elongation is increased by 30% for specimens with brittle-hardened layer when compared with unhardened specimens.