Tribological Behavior of SINTER30 Steel Subjected to Duplex Treatment

Abstract

Plasma nitriding has been extensively used to improve materials’ surface and mechanical properties using conventional plasma techniques. However, this process generally results in a nonuniformity of the properties. In the cathodic cage plasma nitriding (CCPN), the plasma is active only on the surface of the cathodic cage, eliminating inherent defects of conventional plasma nitriding. Herein, a duplex treatment, CCPN and TiN deposition, is used on SINTER30 tool steel for the first time. Vickers microhardness tests, X‐ray diffractometry, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and scratching tests characterize the samples. The results show that TiN post‐coating attains higher surface hardness. All the groups increase their microhardness properties when compared with nontreated substrates. The prior treatment of plasma nitriding assists hardening of the substrate surface. The best condition is obtained when the sample is placed inside the titanium cage and positions directly on the sample port, with simultaneous duplex treatment. When the substrate passes through this simultaneous duplex process, peaks corresponding to Fe3N and TiN are observed at Raman spectra. Suitable TiN layers improve the film adhesion, which is correlated to the system's load‐bearing capacity.

Influence of Time and Temperature of Plasma Nitriding on the Wear Resistance of Ni–Cr–Mo‐Based Films Deposited by AISI 904L Cathodic Cage on SAE 6160 Steel

“…When analyzing the microhardness result, as illustrated in Figure 3 , it is verified that all samples have a surface hardness bigger than the sample of AISI 6160 steel that did not undergo treatment; this was already expected, both for what was discussed in the diffraction results’ X‐rays, as indicated in the literature. [ 4,15,26,27,29,40 ] The presence of phases such as FeN, Fe 2 N, CrN, and expanded austenite promotes an increase in surface hardness in metallic materials, specifically ferrous alloys that undergo a nitriding process. [ 1–3,29,38,47,56–60 ] Considering the deviation in the samples, it is possible to verify that they all had, on average, a very similar surface hardness value, and the more significant variation in the samples that underwent nitriding at 500 °C is due to the precipitation of nitrides and the inhomogeneity of these precipitates on the surface of the samples.…”

“…The authors have been studying the performance of duplex treatment as a way to optimize the properties of films deposited on materials; [ 1,4,23,27–38 ] in general, these researchers seek to increase the diffusion of the deposited species, as well as the formation of secondary nitrides, oxides, or carbonitrides, formed from the interaction of the gas species in the second treatment.…”

Study of the Properties of Iron and Vanadium Nitride Coatings by CCPD on 1080 Steel

“…In this case, the low occurrence of direct ion bombardment on the sample surface allows for more intense sputtering of the cage material. As a result, it was insufficient to form the VN 2 phase and the diffusion zone beneath the layer, resulting in a film with the soft Fe 3 N phase in its microstructure 51 .…”