Characteristics of the Compound Layer on the SCM 435 Steel Produced by Plasma Nitrocarburizing

Abstract:

Plasma nitrocarburizing treatment was performed for SCM 435 steel by using a pulsed plasma ion nitriding system. The effects of the variation of nitrogen and methan contents upon the hardened layer were investigated. Both the thickness of the compound layer and the amount of ε phase in the compound layer increased with nitrogen content. For an atmosphere containing 90% N₂ gas content in the gas mixture, the thickness of the compound layer decreased due to the reduction of the number of nitrogen ion and slow diffusion of nitrogen atoms. The relative amount of ε phase in the compound layer increased with CH₄ gas content up to 2%. For CH₄ gas content over 2% in the gas mixture, the thickness of the compound layer decreased with CH₄ content due to the formation of θ-Fe₃C phase.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 449-452)
• Pages: 385-388
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.449-452.385
• Online since: March 2004
• Authors: In Sup Lee
• Keywords: Compound Layer, Plasma Nitrocarburizing, ε-Phase, θ-Fe₃C

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