Study of the influence of plastic deformation of the HSS M2 surface on ion-plasma nitriding in the glow discharge

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of plastic deformation of the HSS M2 surface on the characteristics of the hardened layer after ion-plasma nitriding in the glow discharge. In the study it was found that the plastic deformation of the steel surface increases the rate of nitrogen diffusion deep into the material, due to an increase in dislocation density and the formation of microdefects, due to a highly refined grain-like ultrafine grain structure. It was also found that the plastic deformation of the steel surface before ion-plasma nitriding leads to a 2-fold increase in the thickness of the hardened layer HSS M2, due to an increase in surface free energy, which contributes to increased adsorption of the saturation element and the formation of nitrides in the near-surface layer of nitrided material.