“…Comparing the bulk material microstructures it can be noticed that the AISI 410NiMo steel samples present relative coarser structure, which would reduce the role of high-diffusivity paths on the nitrided layer growth, in this case, to a level that it is not detectable with the applied measurement techniques. In addition, considering the well known effect of lattice expansion regarding the alloying element Mo in steel composition, according to 15,16 , a higher treatment kinetics should be expected for the AISI 410NiMo steel. Nevertheless, it seems that in our case, the effect of high-diffusivity paths overcomes the Mo effect, differently to the observed by 15,16 on the layer growth kinetics of austenitic stainless steels.…”