• 열처리공학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.8-16
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• 2001

The effects of gas composition, pressure, temperature and time on the case thickness, hardness and nitride formation in the surface of tool steels(STD11 and STD61) have been studied by micro-pulse plasma nitriding. External compound layer and internal diffusion layer and the diffusion layer were observed in the nitrided case of tool steels. The relative amounts and kind of phases formed in the nitrided case changed with the change of nitriding conditions. Generally, only nitride phases such as ${\gamma}(Fe_4N)$, ${\varepsilon}(Fe_{2-3}N)$, or $Cr_{1.75}V_{0.25}N_2$ phases were detected in the compound layer, while nitride and carbide phases such as ${\varepsilon}-nitride(Fe_{2-3}N)$, $(Cr,Fe)_{\gamma}C_3$ or $Fe_3C$ were detected in the diffusion layer by XRD analysis. The thickness of compound layer increased with the increase of nitrogen content in the gas composition. Maximum case depth was obtained at gas pressure of 200Pa.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.117-128
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the surface characteristics of SCM440 steel nitrided with various nitrogen contents for 7 hours at $520^{\circ}C$ by using micro-pulse plasma nitriding apparatus of hot wall type. The effects of oxidation treatment was also investigated on plasma nitrided in 30% nitrogen and post oxidized SCM440 steel at $500^{\circ}C$ in $H_2O$ atmosphere. The ${\gamma}^{\prime}-Fe_4N$ and ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}N$ phases were detected in compound layer of the nitrided steel. As the content of nitrogen in plasma gas increased with 30, 50, 70% on the micro-pulse plasma nitriding for SCM440 steel, the thickness of compound, diffusion layer and the surface hardness were increased. From the wear test results, the best wear resistance was appeared in the condition of ductile ${\gamma}^{\prime}-Fe_4N$ phase formed specimen at 30% nitrogen, whereas that of the treated with 50% and 70% nitrogen decreased owing to the exfoliation of brittle ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}N$ phase in the compound layer. On the nitrided and subsequently oxidized SCM440 steel, the surface layer consisted of $Fe_3O_4$, ${\gamma}^{\prime}-Fe_4N$, and ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}N$ phases. In these treatments, the dissolution of nitrides affect hardness and hardening depth in compound and diffusion layers. For the nitrided in 30% nitrogen and post oxidized specimen at $500^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour, the wear resistance was lower than that of the only nitrided one in 30% nitrogen but higher than those of the nitrided ones in 50 and 70% nitrogen.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2003

We investigate the phase formation in the compound layer of cast irons during the gaseous nitrocarburising of four different cast irons, that contain different types of graphites in the shape and size. We examine the change in the surface roughness with the nitrocarburising time. The observation of cross-sectional microstructure and X-ray diffraction analysis indicate that the compound layer consists of single ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}(N,C)$ phase and that its thickness increases in a parabolic manner with the treatment time. The surface roughness parameters, Rz and Ra increase with increasing treatment time. In other words, the roughness parameters increase as the thickness of compound layer increases. The parameters also depend on the shape and size of graphite in the individual cast irons.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제12권6호
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• pp.427-430
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• 2002

Plasma nitrocarburizing treatment was performed for SCM 435 steel by using a plasma ion nitriding system. The effects of the variation of nitrogen and methan contents upon the hardened layer was investigated. Both the thickness of the compound layer and the amount of $\varepsilon$ phase in the compound layer increased with increasing nitrogen content. However, the thickness of the compound layer decreased due to unstable plasma for an atmosphere containing 90% $N_2$ gas content in the gas mixture. The amount of $\varepsilon$phase in the compound layer increased with increasing $CH_4$ gas content. For $CH_4$ gas content more than 2% in the gas mixture, the thickness of the compound layer decreased due to the formation of $\theta$ phase.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제16권11호
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• pp.681-686
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• 2006

Plasma nitrocarburising and plasma post oxidation were performed to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of S45C and SCM440 steel by a plasma ion nitriding system. Plasma nitrocarburizing was conducted for 3h at $570^{\circ}C$ in the nitrogen, hydrogen and methane atmosphere to produce the ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}$(N, C) phase. Plasma post oxidation was performed on the nitrocarburized samples with various oxygen/hydrogen ratio at constant temperature of $500^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. The very thin magnetite ($Fe_3O_4$) layer $1-2{\mu}m$ in thickness on top of the $15{\sim}25{\mu}m$ ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}$(N, C) compound layer was obtained by plasma post oxidation. A salt spray test and electrochemical testing revealed that in the tested 5% NaCl solution, the corrosion characteristics of the nitrocarburized compound layer could be further improved by the application of the superficial magnetite layer. Throttle valve shafts were treated under optimum plasma processing conditions. Accelerated life time test results, using throttle body assembled with shaft treated by plasma nitrocarburising and post oxidation, showed that plasma nitrocarburizing and plasma post oxidation processes could be a viable technology in the very near future which can replace $Cr^{6+}$ plating.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.103-109
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• 2001

Plasma nitrocarburising and post oxidation were performed on SM45C steel using a plasma nitriding unit. Nitrocarburising was carried out with various methane gas compositions with 4 torr gas pressure at $570^{\circ}C$ for 3 hours and post oxidation was carried out with 100% oxygen gas atmosphere with 4 torr at different temperatures for various times. It was found that the compound layer produced by plasma nitrocarburising consisted of predominantly ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}(N,C)$ and a small proportion of ${\gamma}-Fe_4(N,C)$. With increasing methane content in the gas mixture, ${\varepsilon}$ phase compound layer was favoured. In addition, when the methane content was further increased, cementite was observed in the compound layer. The very thin oxide layer on top of the compound layer was obtained by post oxidation. The formation of Oxide phase was initially started from the magnetite($Fe_3O_4$) and with increasing oxidation time, the oxide phase was increased. With increasing oxidation temperature, oxide phase was increased. However the oxide layer was split from the compound layer at high temperature. Corrosion resistance was slightly influenced by oxidation times and temperatures.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.305-314
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• 1998

This study has been performed to investigate into some effects of various amounts of $CO_2$ and CO gas added to the $50%NH_3-N_2$ based gas atmosphere on microstructure, hardness, chemical analysis and residual stress in the compound and diffusion layer of AISI H13 treated by gaseous nitrocarburising process. The compound layer formed in the surface is composed of mainly ${\varepsilon}-Fe_3$(N,C) and small amount of ${\gamma}^{\prime}-Fe_4N$ and cementite. The maximum hardness value obtainable from H13 steel is shown to be 1200 Hv and the effecvtive hardening depth increases with increasing CO content from 1% to 4%. In the case of CO content over 4%, however, it decreases with increasing CO content. The composition profiles of nitrogen and carbon are found to be within the ${\varepsilon}$-phase field located above the ${\varepsilon}+{\gamma}^{\prime}$ phase field in the Fe-N-C diagram. It is shown that the maximum value of compressive residual stress of H13 steel treated in atmospheres of $50%NH_3-(2,4)%CO_2-N_2-CO$ gas mixture is $48kg/mm^2$ and the depth to which residual stress is in Compressive state is $90{\mu}m$ for the atmosphere $50%NH_3-45%N_2-4%CO_2-1%CO$ gas mixture. It is consequently important to control the maximum value and size of compressive residual stress region in order to obtain desirable mechanical properties.

• 열처리공학회지
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.361-367
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• 2009

The two-step gas nitriding was adopted to increase the depth of surface hardening in 3%Cr-Mo-V steel. The two-step gas nitriding consisted of Step I; $520^{\circ}C{\times}20\;hrs$ and Step II; $550^{\circ}{\times}70\;hrs$. The layer of two-step gas nitriding showed better uniformity and deeper nitriding layer than one-step gas-nitriding layer. The maximum surface hardness showed the value of 850 Hv. The maximum depth of nitrogen permeation showed $750\;{\mu}m$ (350 Hv). X-ray diffraction analysis showed that compound layer was mainly consisted of CrN and $\varepsilon-Fe_3N$ phases. These phases were presumed contributing to surface hardening and wear resistance. However, the corrosion resistance of gas-nitrided Cr-Mo-V steel were not improved in the solution of 1 N HCl and NaOH. Therefore, it is necessary that the continuous study for improvement of corrosion resistance hereafter.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.43-51
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• 2000

The effect of time, temperature and gas composition on the case hardened thickness, hardness and nitride formation in the surface of ductile cast iron(GCD400) have been studied by micro-pulse plasma technique. Typically, external compound layer and internal diffusion layer which is much thicker than compound layer was observed in the nitride hardening of ductile cast iron. The relative amount kind of phases formed in the nitrided hardening changed with the change of nitriding conditions. Generally, only nitride phases such as $\gamma^'$($Fe_4N$), or $\varepsilon$($Fe_{2-3}N$) phases were detected in compound layer by XRD analysis. The thickness of compound layer increased with the increase of nitrogen content in the gas composition. The optimum nitriding temperature was obtained at $520^{\circ}C$. The nitrided hardening thickness parabolically with nitriding time(t) and thus, the case hardened layer(d) fits well with the typical parabolic equation ; d=kt. The material constant k for GCD400 nitrided at $520^{\circ}C$ was $0.04919\times10^3{\mu}m.hr^{-1/2}$.

• 동력기계공학회지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.76-81
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• 2005

The effect of micro-pulse plasma nitriding temperature and time on the case thickness, hardness and nitride formation in the surface of Fe-12Cr-22Mn-X alloy with 3% Co and 1% Ti alloys elements investigated. External compound layer and internal diffusion layer was constituted in plasma nitride case of Fe-12Cr-22Mn-X alloys and formed nitride phase such as ${\gamma}'-Fe4N\;and\;{\varepsilon}-Fe2-3N$. Case depth increased with increasing the plasma nitriding temperature and time. Surface hardness of nitrided Fe-12Cr-22Mn-X alloys obtained the above value of Hv 1,600 and case depth obtained the above value of $45{\mu}m$ in Fe-12Cr-22Mn-3Co alloy and $60{\mu}m$ in Fe-12Cr-22Mn-1Ti alloy. Wear-resistance increased with increasing plasma nitriding time and showing the higher value in Fe-12Cr-22Mn-1Ti alloy than Fe-12Cr-22Mn-3Co alloy.