• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.443-448
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• 1996

In order to plasma-sulfnitride by combining ion-nitriding of a steel and sputtering of MoS$_2$, chromium-molybdenum steel was plasma-sulfritrided using hollow cathode discharge with parallel electrodes which are a main of the steel and a subsidiary cathode of $MoS_2$. The treatment was carried out at 823K for 10.8ks under 665Pa in a 30% $N_2$-70% $H_2$ gas atmosphere. Plasma-sulfnitriding layers formed of the steel were characterized with EDX, XRD, micrographic structure observation and hardness measurement. A compound layer of 8-15$\mu\textrm{m}$ and nitrogen diffusion layer of about 400$\mu\textrm{m}$ were formed on the surface of plasma-sulfnitrided steel. The compound layer consisted of FeS containing Mo and iron nitrides. The nitrides of $\varepsilon$-$Fe_2_3N$ and $\gamma$'-$Fe_4N$ formed under the FeS. The thickness of compound layer and surface hardness were different with the gaps between main and subsidiary cathodes even in the same sulfnitriding temperature. The surface hardnesses after plasma-sulfnitriding were distributed from 640 to 830Hv. The surface hardness was higher in the plasma-sulfnitriding than the usual sulfnitriding in molten salt. This may be due to Mo in sulfnitriding layer.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.568-572
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• 2002

Plasma sulfnitriding technology was employed to harden the surface of SKD61 steel. The plasma sulfnitriding was performed with 3 torr gas pressure at $580^{\circ}C$ for 20 hours. Plasma sulfnitriding resulted in the formation of very thin $2-3\mu\textrm{m}$ FeS sulfide layer on top of $15-20\mu\textrm{m}$ compound layer, which consisted of predominantly $\varepsilon$- $Fe{2-3}$ N and a second phase of $\Upsilon'-Fe_4$N. In comparision with plasma nitriding treatment, plasma sulfnitriding treatment showed better surface roughness and corrosion resistance due to the presence of the thin FeS layer. which coated microvoids and microcracks on top of the nitrided layer. It was also found that plasma sulfnitrided sample showed better wear resistance due to the presence of the thin FeS layer which acted as a solid lubricant.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2001

The effects of post-oxidation and sulfnitriding treatments on the phase transformation in the nitrided case of tool steels have been studied. Dense and compact $Fe_3O_4$ layer was formed at the outer surface of nitride compound layer by post-oxidation treatment and multi layer of iron sulfide(FeS) was formed in the compound layer by sulfnitriding treatment. The surface hardness decreased because of formation of the soft oxide or sulfide at the nitride surface. Diffusion layer of nitride case was not affected by post-oxidation treatment or sulfnitriding treatment of nitrided alloy tool steels.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.615-620
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• 1996

Chromium-Molybdenum steel was plasma-nitrided at 823 K for 10.8 ks in an atmosphere of 30% $N_2$-70% $H_2$ gas under 665 Pa without and with a subsidiary cathode of $MoS_2$ to compare ion-nitriding and plasma-sulfnitriding using subsidiary cathode. When the steel was ion-nitrided without $MoS_2$, iron nitride layer of 4$\mu\textrm{m}$ and nitrogen diffusion layer of 400mm were formed on the steel. A compound layer of 15$\mu\textrm{m}$ and nitrogen diffusion layer of 400$\mu\textrm{m}$ were formed on the surface of the steel plasma-sulfnitrided with subsidiary cathode of $MoS_2$. The compound layer consisted of FeS containing Mo and iron nitrides. The nitrides of $\varepsilon$-$Fe_2$, $_3N$ and $\gamma$-$Fe_4N$ formed under the FeS. The thicker compound layer was formed by plasma-sulfnitriding than ion-nitriding. In plasma-sulfnitriding, the surface hardness was about 730 Hv. The surface hardness of the steel plasma-sulfnitrided with $MoS_2$ was lower than that of ion-nitrided without $MoS_2$. This may be due to the soft FeS layer formed on the surface of the plasma-sulfnitrided steel.