MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF LOW TEMPERATURE PLASMA SURFACE ALLOYED 316 AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL

摘要

Low temperature plasma nitriding and carburising are well known as methods for improving tribological properties without deterioration of corrosion properties of austenitic stainless steels. 'S phase' is a key alloyed layer achieved from these two plasma thermochemical processes, referred as nitrogen and carbon S phase, respectively. The present work has been focused on full characterisation of the mechanical and chemical properties of carbon and nitrogen S phase on austenitic stainless steel AISI 316 produced during low temperature plasma processes with different process parameters. A series of theoretical, experimental, and analytical studies have been conducted in order to lay the necessary foundations for fully realising the application potential of these processes in various stress and environmental conditions.