NITRIDING OF TYPE 304 STAINLESS STEEL IN A SODIUM-NITROGEN SYSTEM

摘要

Type 304 stainless steel is nitrided in a 1000 °F sodium system covered with nitrogen gas. Observations were made using a flowing sodium loop. The degree of nitriding is heaviest at the interface between the sodium and nitrogen.nThe nitriding process strengthens the type 304 stainless steel at elevated temperatures and produces a marked decrease in its ductility. The stress-rupture life is greatly decreased at 1000 °F due to nitriding. At a deflection of 0.076 in producing a stress of 36,000 psi, the flexural fatigue life is significantly increased by nitriding.