Method of salt bath nitriding for producing iron member having improved corrosion resistance and iron parts

• Main Authors: YAMAMURA TETSUYA, SATO TOKUO, SAWANO YUTAKA, KUROSAWA KAZUYOSHI, NAKAMURA HUMIHIDE, TENMAYA MOTOHIRO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.02.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; CHEMISTRY; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL; METALLURGY; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION

A new nitriding process by using a salt bath to produce iron and steel parts having excellent abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance are explained. A iron lithium complex oxide layer are formed at the outermost surface of the iron part by immersing the iron and steel parts in a salt bath containing cationic component of Li, Na and K and anionic components of CNO<->and CO3<2->, where hydroxide compound selected from lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are added to the salt bath. Materials being in a hydrated state or in a free water containing state can be used for preparation or replenishing of the salt bath. An moistend air of (1x10<-2 >kg.H2O)/(1 kg dry air) can be used for mixing the salt bath. Containing ratio of Li, Na, K is preferable where a solidifying temperature of the mixture of carbonates of Li, Na, K in that ratio is lower than 500° C. It is preferable that the mol ratio of Na and K is to be 2:8~8:2, the content of CNO<-> is to be 5~35 wt %, the content of CN<-> in the salt bath is less than 2 wt % and the temperature of the salt bath is to be 450~650° C.