Abstract
The effects of the high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN), tempering and subzero treatment of STD11 steel have been investigated. HTGN treatment was carried out at $1050^{\circ}C$, $1100^{\circ}C$ and $1150^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr. in an atmosphere of $1\;kg/cm^2$ nitrogen gas. Tempering and double-tempering were performed at $550^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr. The surface layer of HTGN-treated steel appeared the precipitates of $M_2N$, $M_7C_3$ and $M_{23}C_6$ in the matrix of austenite. However, the interior region exhibited martensite with the precipitation of carbides. The nitrogen content of the surface layer appeared ~1.35 wt.%, ~0.83 wt.% and ~0.56 wt.% at the HTGN treatment temperature of $1050^{\circ}C$, $1100^{\circ}C$ and $1150^{\circ}C$, respectively. The surface hardness of double-tempered and subzero-treated steel measured the maximum value of 828 Hv, 960 Hv, 750 HV after HTGN treatment at the $1050^{\circ}C$, $1100^{\circ}C$ and $1150^{\circ}C$, respectively. These hardness value increased above 230~420 Hv compared with the HTGN-treated steel due to the decrease in retained austenite and existence of fine precipitates.
