The Influence of Frictional Treatment and Low-Temperature Plasma Carburizing on the Structure and Phase Composition of Metastable Austenitic Steel

Abstract

Abstract The features of the structure and phase composition of corrosion-resistant austenitic chromium–nickel steel (16.80 wt % Cr, 8.44 wt % Ni) subjected to carburizing in electron beam plasma at temperatures of 350 and 500°C, frictional treatment with a sliding indenter, and a combination of frictional treatment and plasma carburizing have been considered. It has been established that plasma carburizing results in the formation of a modified surface layer consisting of carbon-saturated austenite and carbides (Cr23C6, Fe3C); in this case, the formation of γC-phase occurs only at a temperature of 350°C. The depth of a modified layer increases with an increase in the carburizing temperature. It has been shown that it is useful to perform combined frictional treatment and plasma carburizing at a carburizing temperature of 350°C, since in this case the deformation-induced structure formed as a result of frictional treatment is preserved, and the precipitated carbides remain highly dispersed. In this case, frictional treatment should provide the formation of the deepest possible diffusion-active layer with a dispersed structure.