Formation of Multiple Phase Microstructure and Wear Investigation on Treated AISI 904L SS by Low Temperature Ion Nitriding Process

Abstract

In industries, components have to operate under extreme prerequisites such as high load, speed, temperature and at a chemical environment. The materials are selected by commercial availability, cost and by considering by their properties like strength, hardness etc. AISI 904L is a high alloy stainless steel with low carbon content material having poor hardness on the surface and negative wear properties. Many of the engineering failures are due to fatigue, corrosion and poor wear resistance which are initiated in its surface. This causes cracks in the surface which reduces the life of the material. Also the surfaces of the materials are caused by severe thermal, chemical and shock loads. Chosen for this work, AISI 904L materials were subjected to plasma or ion - nitriding process and were treated to 3 different timing parameters like 24 hrs, 48 hrs and 72 hrs respectively, maintaining constant temperature of 650oC. Among the availability of other nitriding process like gas and liquid nitriding, plasma nitriding gives good dimensional stability, uniform treatment, less distortion, uniform case depth irrespective towards size and shape of the specimen. For analyzing the wear properties, a pin on disc machine is utilized making the pin to get weared on disc against a load of 100N at a speed of 1000 rpm. Finally the metallographic studies were done by Scanning Electron Microscopic analysis.