Structure and Properties of Nitrocarburized Diffusion Layers Generated on High-Speed Steels

摘要

This work analyzes the structure and properties of nitrocarburized diffusion cases generated on M2 type high-speed and 321 stainless steels in a thermochemical. Application of variable process temperatures in the range of 450-600 deg C and a variable process duration (2-6 h) enabled observation of growth kinetics of the layers on tested steel grades. Evaluation of properties of the cases obtained comprised hardness measurements and wear tests, carried out by the 3 cylinder-cone method. The evaluation showed that the nitrocarburizing process developed for high-speed and stainless steels yields hard surface layers with beneficial functional properties.