https://doi.org/10.1051/epjap:2008138
Surface evolution during low temperature plasma assisted nitriding of austenitic stainless steel
1
Laboratoire de Physique des Matériaux, UMR 6630, CNRS université de Poitiers, BP 30179, 86962 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France
2
Laboratoire de Mécanique et de Physique des Matériaux, ENSMA, BP 40109, 86961 Futuroscope Chasseneuil Cedex, France
Corresponding author: michel.drouet@univ-poitiers.fr
Received:
13
November
2007
Revised:
3
April
2008
Accepted:
4
June
2008
Published online:
19
July
2008
Plasma-assisted nitriding is an attractive surface treatment for metallurgical surface modification to improve wear, hardness and fatigue resistance of austenitic stainless steels. However, this technique requires low temperature processing in order to avoid chromium nitride precipitation and hence the degradation of corrosion properties. This paper presents a low temperature high rate plasma nitriding process and will emphasis on the consequences of nitrogen incorporation on the metallographic and crystallographic properties of the sample surface.
PACS: 60. – Condensed matter: structural, mechanical, and thermal properties
© EDP Sciences, 2008
