This paper provides an analysis of the influence of thermal and surface treatments on sliding wear of AISI 420 stainless steel. The specimens were separated into three batches. One was left in the as-received condition for comparison purposes. The other two were subjected to austenitising, oil quenching and tempering at 673 K. One of them was also plasma nitrided under an atmosphere of 25%N2 and 75%H2, at a temperature of 673 K. All the specimens were tested under different normal loads and pure dry sliding conditions. The wear affected surface and subsurface were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, and phase identification was determined with X-ray diffraction; changes in contact conditions during tests were analysed; initial and final surface roughness were measured. During the tests, surface temperature and friction coefficients were recorded.
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