Plasma Electrolytic Carbonitriding of 20CrMnTi Steel

Abstract

A carbontirided layer was produced on 20CrMnTi steel by plasma electrolytic carbonitriding (PEC/N). Scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis was employed to study the morphology and chemical composition of the carbonitrided layer. Hardness of the layer was measured using a microhardness tester, and the phase structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. The results show that a compact carbonitrided layer can be obtained on the surface of 20CrMnTi steel. The thickness of the layer increases with carbontriding time. When the sample was treated at 120V for 20min, the thickness is 45μm and the highest microhardness is 766HV0.05. The carbontrided layers are composed of Fe3C, Fe5C2, ε-Fe3N and α-Fe.