• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 1988

This study has been carried out to evaluate gaseous nitrocarburizing treatment undertaken for pure iron at $570^{\circ}C$ in an atmosphere containing 50% endothermic gas, generated from natural gas, and 50% ammonia. The results obtained from the experiment are as follows ; 1) The microstructure of gaseous nitrocarburized pure iron consists of the compound layer on the surface and the diffusion zone beneath it. The compound layer progresses uniformly into ferrite with a thickness of $20{\mu}$ obtained after treating for 3 hours. 2) Chemical analysis has shown that the compound layer has a C/N ratio of 0.19 and that the average combined interstitial content of the compound layer is about 30 atomic percent, which is close to the lower limit of the ${\varepsilon}$-carbonitride phase field in Fe-C-N phase diagram. 3) X-ray diffraction analysis has revealed that the compound layer consists mainly of the c.p.h. phase, ${\varepsilon}-Fe_3$(C.N) and a small amount of $Fe_4N$ and traces of ferrite are also present in the compound layer. 4) The microhardness of the compound layer is about 600 V.H.N and shows a relatively sharp fall-off at the compound layer/diffusion zome interface. 5) The average actual degree of ammonia dissociation is calculated to be 27% for a gaseous nitrocarburizing treatment carried out at $570^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.219-227
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• 2002

This study has been performed to investigate the effect of $CO_2$ content on the growth characteristics of the compound layer, porous layer and corrosion characteristics of carbon steels after gaseous nitrocarburizing in $70%-NH_3-CO_2-N_2$ at $580^{\circ}C$ for 2.5 hrs. The results obtained from the experiment were the thickness of the compound and porous layers increased with increasing $CO_2$ contents. At the same fixed gas composition the thickness of the compound and porous layer increased with increasing carbon content of the specimens. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that compound layer was mainly consisted of ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}(N,C)$ and ${\gamma}^{\prime}-Fe_4N$ as the increased with $CO_2$ contents in atmosphere, compound layer was chiefly consisted of ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}(N,C)$ phase. With increasing $CO_2$ content and total flow rate in gaseous nitrocarburizing, the amount of ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}(N,C)$ phase in the compound layer was increased. The current density of passivity decreased with increasing $CO_2$ content due to the development of porous layer at the out most surface of ${\varepsilon}-Fe_{2-3}(N,C)$.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 1999

The study on the wear characteristics of compound layers formed during gaseous nitrocarburising in the medium carbon boron steels and the plain carbon steel has been carried out by using a pin-on-disc type wear test machine under the oil lubricating condition at room temperature and by varying applied loads, sliding speeds and wear distances. Values of friction coefficient measured at the sliding speed of 0.4m/sec under the oil lubricating condition have been shown to decrease considerably with increasing applied load and become gradually a constant value as load is increased to a higher value, showing that the transition load for friction coefficient appears at an applied load of 247.2N. The length and volume wear rates of compound layer have been revealed to relatively constantly increase, also showing that the wear life per unit thickness of compound layer turns out to be superior as porous layer has a denser and thinner appearance. As the sliding speed increases during wear test performed by varying sliding speed at a load of 63.2N under the oil lubricating condition for medium carbon boron steel nitrocarburised in gas atmosphere, the wear rate has been found to increase, the friction coefficient to decrease and the wear life per unit thickness of compound layer to decrease considerably.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.267-277
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• 2021

Nitriding layers developed during gaseous nitriding of AISI4115 steels for the application of steel bushing part were investigated. The compound layer thickness of about 10㎛, 0.3mm of case depth under the same conditions, and conventional nitriding, nitrocarburizing, and controlled nitriding were performed in three methods. In the controlled nitriding, K_N was controlled by measuring the hydrogen partial pressure. The nitrided samples were analyzed by micro Vickers hardness test, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The phases of compound layer were identified by X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction. The controlled nitriding specimen indicated the highest surface hardness of about 860 HV_0.1. The compound layer of the conventional nitriding and nitrocarburizing specimen was formed with about 46% porous layer and 𝜺 + 𝜸' phase, and about 13% porous layer and about 80% 𝜸' phase were formed on the controlled nitriding specimen. As a result of the Ball-on-disk wear test, the worn mass loss of ball performed on the surface of the controlled nitriding specimen was the largest. The controlled nitriding specimen had the highest surface hardness due to the lowest porous percentage of compound layer, which improved the wear resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.68-83
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• 1989

Physical metallurgy aspects of gaseous ferritic nitrocarburising are reviewed in the light of basic studies undertaken since 1975 which have illustrated inconsistencies between the iron-carbon-nitrogen ternary phase diagram at $570^{\circ}C$ and the experimental observation of the co-existence of the ${\varepsilon}$ carbonitride phase and ferrite. Thermodynamic investigations by Xu and Li together with those by Slycke et al are reviewed to illustrate compatability between a modified isothermal section of the Fe-C-N system and the formation and growth of a monophased ${\varepsilon}$ structure under a variety of processing conditions. The implications of the modified diagram in terms of innovations in industrial ferritic nitrocarburising practice are discussed, together with limitations on the control of the process. The importance of the developing technology of black nitrocarburising for enhanced wear, fatigue, and corrosion resistance is emphasised. Basic studies and industrial status of austenitic nitrocarburising treatments are also reviewed, which highlight the importance of substrate strengthening for high load bearing applications of anti-scuff thermochemical treatments.