Mechanical performance of thermally post-treated ion-nitrided steels

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 371; pp. 576 - 582
• Main Authors: Rosales, I., Martinez, H., Guardian, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.05.2016
• Subjects: Chromium molybdenum vanadium steels; Die steels; Diffusion; Diffusion layers; Expansion; Hardness; Heat treatment; Hot work tool steels; Mechanical properties; Medium carbon steels; Microhardness; Steels; Tool steels; Wear; Mechanical properties; Diffusion; Hardness; Wear
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.03.048

- In figure are observed the square points, showing that the diffusion heat treatment affect positively the ion nitride condition (circle points) for the treated steels. - Diffusion modeling (continuous lines) present good correlation between theoretical and experimental results. [Display omitted] •A diffusion heat treatment post ion nitriding is proposed.•Different type of steels was exposed to diffusion heat treatment.•Diffusion times play an important role in nitrogen diffusion profiles.•Mechanical properties are improved after treatment. To obtain an enlarged nitrided layer, a new diffusion heat treatment was applied to three different ion-nitriding steels. Selected steels were from the AISI series: 1045, O1, and H13. Fractographic analyses showed that layers of each one of the steels considerably grew after being exposed to diffusion heat treatment. Micro-hardness tests indicated that the modified steels showed a similar value when is compared with the nitrided condition. By comparing the results in fracture toughness tests, it was observed that the most positively affected steel by the treatment was the AISI-1045 steel. Wear analyses showed that diffusion heat-treated samples exhibited an enhanced wear behavior under moderate loads.