Kinetics of Low Temperature Nitriding of Precipitation Hardened Stainless Steel

Abstract

The paper presents results of research on nitrided layers on precipitation hardened stainless steel, known also as 1RK91 (Sandvik NanoflexTM). Samples were subjected to low temperature nitriding. The influence of nitriding parameters on nitriding kinetics was investigated. The nitriding process was carried out in a mixture of NH3 50% and products of its dissociation as well as in 100% ammonia atmosphere at temperature range 425-475°C. To investigate the kinetics of nitrided layer formation, the nitriding time changes between 2 and 8 h. The obtained diffusion layers were examined using the following methods: light and scanning electron microscopy, XRD phase analysis. The distribution profiles of selected chemical elements were acquired using optical spectrometry GDOES.