Abstract
Plasma nitriding behavior of Fe-Cr alloys has been studied at temperatures in the range of 773–873 K in order to provide basic knowledge for microstructure design of nitrided layers and to improve the wear resistance. In the nitriding temperature of 773 K, typical microstructure of nitrided layers was observed as reported elsewhere. However, anormal microstructure of nitrided layers was observed under a nitriding condition, at 873 K for 176.4 ks (49 h). In Fe-13Cr alloy, nitrided layer showed stripe-pattern, each sub-layer of which has different chromium content. Nitrided layer hardness increased gradually from the specimen surface to the nitriding front before dropping drastically to the same level as matrix hardness. The stripe-pattern was also observed for Fe-3Cr alloy at the vicinity of nitriding front for the same nitriding conditions. On the other hand, nitrided layers in Fe-8Cr and Fe-19Cr alloys are composed from different sub-layers, containing different concentration of chromium. These phenomena cannot be explained only by nitrogen diffusion process during the nitriding.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B. EDENHOFER, “Heat Treatment of Metals” (1974) p. 23.
G. J. DIXON, S. A. PLUMB and H. C. CHILD, Heat Treatment 81 (1983) 137.
A. DA SILVA ROCHA, T. STROHAECKER, V. TOMALA and T. HIRSCH, Surface and Coating Technology 115 (1999) 24.
J. M. PRIEST, M. J. BALDWIN, M. P. FEWELL, S. C. HAYDON, G. A. COLLINS, K. T. SHORT and J. TENDYS, Thin Solids Films 345 (1999) 113.
C. ALVES JR., J. A. RODRIGUES and A. E. MARTINELLI, Material Science and Engineering A2798 (2000) 10.
H. KUWAHARA, H. MATSUOKA, J. TAKADA, S. KIKUCHI, Y. TOMII and I. TAMURA, Oxidation of Metals 36 (1991) 146.
M. SAHARA, T. SATO, S. ITO and K. AKASHI, Materials Chemistry and Physics 54 (1998) 123.
M. UMA DEVI and O. N. MOHANTY, Surface and Coatings Technology 107 (1998) 55.
W. KOVACS and W. RUSSEL, in Proc. Int. Conf. Ion Nitriding, Cleveland, OH, 15–17 September 1986, (ASM International) p. 9.
B. PODGORNIK, J. VIZ INTIN and V. LESKOVSEK, Surface and Coatings Technology 108–109 (1998) 454.
L. E. KINDLIMANN and G. S. ANSELL, Metal Trans. 1 (1970) 163.
V. GEROLD and H. HARBELKORN, Phys. Stat. Sol. 16 (1966) 675.
H. KUWAHARA and J. TAKADA, J. Jpn. Powder and Powder Metallurgy 41 (1994) 1345.
H. KUWAHARA, PhD thesis, Kyoto University, 1992 p. 60.
C. WAGNER, Z. Electrochem. 63 (1959) 772.
P. GRIEVESON and E. T. TURKDOGAN, Trans. AIME 230 (1964) 1604.
Japan Institute of Metals (ed.), “Metals Data Book” (Maruzen, Tokyo, 1974). Received 19 June 2000 and accepted 2 October 2001 844
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Granito, N., Kuwahara, H. & Aizawa, T. Normal and anormal microstructure of plasma nitrided Fe-Cr alloys. Journal of Materials Science 37, 835–844 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013860419127
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013860419127