Enhancing the Hardness and Tensile Strength of St 42 Steel Produced by Carburizing with an Anadara Granosa Shell Powder Catalyst

The efficacy of Anadara granosa shell powder (AGSP) as an alternating catalyst medium in the carburizing process of low-carbon steel has been investigated. This research utilized St. 42 steel, employing carburizing agents of coconut and Anadara granosa shell powder. The carburizing process was conducted at 950°C, with Anadara granosa shell powder percentages of 0%, 10%, and 20% and carburizing durations of 3 hours, 6 hours, and 9 hours, respectively. Following the carburizing process, the specimens were rapidly cooled using the water-quenching medium. The specimens' surface hardness was tested with a Vickers microhardness testing machine, while tensile testing was executed using tensile testing equipment. The hardness test results indicated that the maximum surface hardness value was achieved from the sample conducted to the carburizing process utilizing 20% Anadara granosa shell powder (AGSP) for 9 hours, reaching a hardness of 710 ± 4.37 HV and a tensile strength of 1995 ± 19.23 MPa. These findings were approximately doubled compared to the surface hardness value of 315 ± 4.72 HV and tensile strength value of 894 ± 22.43 MPa derived from the carburizing process without the Anadara granosa shell powder catalyst (0% AGSP). This result indicates that Anadara granosa shell powder can be used as a catalyst in the carburizing process of St. 42 steel.