Title

EFFECT OF PLASMA NITRIDING PARAMETERS ON SURFACE PROPERTIES OF LOW-TEMPERATURE NITRIDED AISI 420 MARTENSITIC STAINLESS STEEL

EFFECT OF PLASMA NITRIDING PARAMETERS ON SURFACE PROPERTIES OF LOW-TEMPERATURE NITRIDED AISI 420 MARTENSITIC STAINLESS STEEL

Authorship

Scheuer, Cristiano José; Gralak, Anderson Carlos; Zanetti, Fernando Irto; Amaral, Thiago Fernandes; Pereira, Ricardo; Brunatto, Silvio Francisco; Cardoso, Rodrigo Perito

Scheuer, Cristiano José

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Gralak, Anderson Carlos

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Zanetti, Fernando Irto

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Amaral, Thiago Fernandes

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Pereira, Ricardo

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Brunatto, Silvio Francisco

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Cardoso, Rodrigo Perito

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DOI

10.5151/2594-5327-23492

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Abstract

The nitriding mechanisms of conventional DC plasma treatments have been extensively studied and discussed, however the influence of the process variables is not yet completely understood. Thereby, aiming to contribute to the subject understanding, a series of low-temperature plasma nitriding experiments have been carried out to evaluate the process parameters effect on the surface properties of AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel. The influence of treatment temperature and time, gas mixture composition and flow rate, process pressure and applied voltage, was investigated. The treated samples were characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and microhardness measurements. The results indicate that critical process parameters in the development of the microstructure and phase composition of the nitrided layer are the treatment temperature and time. Moreover, the results also show that the parameters of gas mixture composition, gas flow rate, process pressure and applied voltage are also important.

The nitriding mechanisms of conventional DC plasma treatments have been extensively studied and discussed, however the influence of the process variables is not yet completely understood. Thereby, aiming to contribute to the subject understanding, a series of low-temperature plasma nitriding experiments have been carried out to evaluate the process parameters effect on the surface properties of AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel. The influence of treatment temperature and time, gas mixture composition and flow rate, process pressure and applied voltage, was investigated. The treated samples were characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and microhardness measurements. The results indicate that critical process parameters in the development of the microstructure and phase composition of the nitrided layer are the treatment temperature and time. Moreover, the results also show that the parameters of gas mixture composition, gas flow rate, process pressure and applied voltage are also important.

Keywords

Low-temperature plasma nitriding; AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel; Nitrogen expanded martensite; Nitriding process parameters.

Low-temperature plasma nitriding; AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel; Nitrogen expanded martensite; Nitriding process parameters.