Abstract
The nitriding behaviour of an FeCrC (3.16 wt% Cr, 0.20 wt% C) alloy, as a model system for En40B (a classical gas-nitriding steel), was investigated. By comparing the response of a hardened structure, a quenched and tempered structure and an annealed structure, the effect on nitriding of different initial chromium and carbon disbributions over the phases present could be studied. The structure after nitriding was described employing metallographic methods (optical and scanning electron microscopy; hardness measurements), electron microprobe analysis (concentrationdepth profiles) and X-ray diffractometry (residual macrostress determination; phase identification). Further the weight and thickness increases of the specimens during nitriding were determined. During initial stages of nitriding, excess-nitrogen uptake and the development of grain-boundary carbides and a compressive residual surface macrostress took place. At later stages discontinuous precipitation, void formation, decarburization and relaxation of the compressive residual macrostress occurred. The observations lead to a model description for the nitriding of an FeCrC alloy.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
S. A. Levy, J. F. Libsch andJ. D. Wood, “Source book on nitriding” (American Society for Metals, Ohio, 1977).
H. C. F. Rozendaal, P. F. Colijn andE. J. Mittemeijer, “Proceedings of the conference on Heat Treatment 1984” (The Metals Society, London, 1984) p. 31.1; see alsoSurf. Engng. 1 (1985) 30.
T. Bell,Heat Treat. Met. 2 (1975) 39.
G. Wahl,Fachberichte Hüttenpraxis Metallweiter-verarbeitung 19 (1981) 1076.
E. Taylor,Metall. Prog. (July) (1983) 1.
B. Grellet, “Proceedings of 3rd International Congress on Heat Treatment of Materials”, Shanghai, 1983 (The Metals Society, London, 1984) p. 9.58.
E. J. Mittemeijer,J. Heat Treating 3 (1983) 114.
E. J. Mittemeijer, H. C. F. Rozendaal, P. F. Colijn, P. J. Van Der Schaaf andR. Th. Furnee, “Proceedings of the Conference on Heat Treatment 1981” (The Metals Society, London, 1983) p. 107.
E. J. Mittemeijer, A. B. P. Vogels andP. J. Van Der Schaaf,J. Mater. Sci. 15 (1980) 3129.
P. M. Hekker, H. C. F. Rozendaal andE. J. Mittemeijer,J. Mater. Sci. 20 (1985) 718.
H. Dettner andJ. Elze, “Handbuch der Galvanotechnik”, Vol. 2 (Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, 1966) p. 102.
P. F. Colijn, E. J. Mittemeijer andH. C. F. Rozendaal,Z. Metallkde 74 (1983) 620 (in English).
S. J. B. Reed, “Electron Microprobe Analysis” (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1975).
H. P. Klug andL. E. Alexander, “X-ray Diffraction Procedures”, 2nd Edn. (Wiley, New York, 1974) p. 755.
R. Delhez andE. J. Mittemeijer,J. Appl. Crystallogr. 8 (1975) 609.
S. Mridha andD. H. Jack,Met. Sci. 16 (1982) 398.
W. Jellinghouse andH. Keller,Archiv. Eisenhüttenw. 43 (1972) 315.
K. Kuo,J. Iron Steel Inst. 173 (1953) 363.
H. H. Podgurski andF. N. Davis,Acta Metall. 29 (1981) 1.
W. B. Pearson, “A Handbook of Lattice Spacing and Structures of Metals and Alloys”, Vols. 1 and 2 (Pergamon Press, New York, 1958, 1967).
E. J. Mittemeijer, Proceedings of the Symposium on “Case-hardened steels: microstructural and stress effects”, edited by D. E. Diesburg (TMS-AIME, Warrendale, Pennsylvania, 1984) p. 161.
B. J. Lightfoot andD. H. Jack, “Proceedings of the conference on Heat Treatment 1973” (The Metals Society, London, 1975) p. 59.
J. Zysk, J. Tochikowski andE. Kasprzycka,HÄrt.-Techn. Mitt. 34 (1979) 263.
H. C. F. Rozendaal andE. J. Mittemeijer, in “Eigenspannungen: Entstehung-Messung-Bewertung”, edited by E. Macherauch and V. Hauk (Oberursel, Deutsch Gesellschaft für Metallkunde, 1983) p. 363 (in English).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Van Wiggen, P.C., Rozendaal, H.C.F. & Mittemeijer, E.J. The nitriding behaviour of iron-chromium-carbon alloys. J Mater Sci 20, 4561–4582 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00559347
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00559347