Possibilities of the Utilization of Nitriding on Case-Hardening Steels

Abstract

This paper studies the possibility of using plasma nitriding for treating case-hardening steels. For the experiment, the case-hardening steels equivalent 1.7131 (i.e., CSN 41 4220) and equivalent 1.5752 (i.e., CSN 41 6426), used in manufacturing of exposed parts of military and special vehicles as well as in parts of weapons, were selected. The verification of chemical composition was performed by the optical emission spectrometer Tasman Q4 Bruker. For observations of the microstructure and assessment of compound layers, the instrument Olympus DSX500i was used. In accordance with ISO 18203:2016(E), the depth of diffusion layers was evaluated from profiles of microhardness measured by the automated microhardness tester LM247 AT LECO. The results of the experiments show benefits of applying plasma nitriding upon the selected case-hardening steels.

wear resistance enhancement of Case-hardening steels by utilizing plasma nitriding in military applications

“…Inverted Opto-digital microscope Olympus DSX500i was utilized for observation of the microstructure of the steel in original heat-treated state as well as for determination of the white layer thickness. The observed microstructure already published in [16] was in accordance with the parameters of the heat-treatment. After 15 hours of plasma nitriding in the nitriding appliance the white layer with thickness oscillating around 4 µm covered the specimen´s surface.…”

“…Microhardness measurement was performed on the automated microhardness tester LM247 AT LECO. According to the results also already published in the paper [16] the NHD = 357 µm was determined. The maximum values of the hardness measured in a vicinity of the surface oscillated around 720 HV.…”

“…Therefore, the paper is devoted to plasma nitriding and its possibility to enhance wear-resistance of case-hardening steels. This paper partially builds on the results of the previous research described in paper [16].…”

Pla Material Surface Properties Evaluation Prepared by Additive Technology

“…The test specimen moved in a straight line during the experiment. The test was performed dry, as we usually use in the case of steels [21,22].…”