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Determination of the Optimum Conditions for Ion Nitriding of 32CDV13 Low Alloy Steel
Author(s) -
Saied Chahinez,
Chala Abdelouahad,
Nouveau Corinne,
Djouadi Mohamed Abdou,
Chekour Lounis
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.200731812
Subject(s) - nitriding , materials science , tempering , indentation hardness , vanadium nitride , metallurgy , alloy , scanning electron microscope , alloy steel , corrosion , nitride , vanadium , diffusion , layer (electronics) , diffraction , microstructure , composite material , physics , thermodynamics , optics
The excellent mechanical properties of chrome‐vanadium low alloy steel usually obviate the need for expensive quench and tempering operations. Furthermore, the presence of a significant amount of nitride phases has generated interest in the applicability of this kind of steel to fabricate tools with good corrosion and wear resistance. In this paper, 32CDV13 low alloy steel was ion nitrided under different process parameters including time (2, 4, 6 and 8 h), temperature (380, 500 and 580 °C) and gas mixture (N 2 , H 2 and CH 4 ). By determining phase composition, hardness profiles, compound layer thickness and case depth, the optimum working conditions were determined. Microhardness tester, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were utilised to characterise the nitrided surfaces. The observed differences in the hardness, the thickness and the structure of the compound layers and the diffusion zones are discussed. The optimum results were obtained at 75%N 2 + 20%H 2 + 5%CH 4 gas mixture, at the temperature of 500 °C and for a process time of 8 h.