Abstract
Salt bath nitriding of 17-4 PH martensitic precipitation hardening stainless steels was conducted at 610, 630, and 650 °C for 2 h using a complex salt bath heat-treatment, and the properties of the nitrided surface were systematically evaluated. Experimental results revealed that the microstructure and phase constituents of the nitrided surface alloy are highly process condition dependent. When 17-4PH stainless steel was subjected to complex salt bathing nitriding, the main phase of the nitrided layer was expanded martensite (α′), expanded austenite (γN), CrN, Fe4N, and (Fe,Cr) x O y . In the sample nitrided above 610 °C, the expanded martensite transformed into expanded austenite. But in the sample nitrided at 650 °C, the expanded austenite decomposed into αN and CrN. The decomposed αN then disassembled into CrN and alpha again. The nitrided layer depth thickened intensively with the increasing nitriding temperature. The activation energy of nitriding in this salt bath was 125 ± 5 kJ/mol.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W. Jui Hung and L. Chih Kuang, Influence of High Temperature Exposure on the Mechanical Behavior and Microstructure of 17-4 PH Stainless Steel, J. Mater. Sci., 2003, 38, p 965
J. Wang, H. Zou, X. Wu, and C. Li, The Effect of Long-Term Isothermal Aging on Dynamic Fracture Toughness of Type 17-4 PH SS at 350°C, Mater. Trans., 2005, 46, p 846
A. Leyland, D.B. Lewis, P.R. Stevenson, and A. Matthews, Low Temperature Plasma Diffusion Treatment of Stainless Steels for Improved Wear Resistance, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1993, 62, p 608
F. Alonso, A. Arizaga, A. Garcia, and J.I. Onate, Tribological Effects of Yttrium, Nitrogen Ion Implantation on a Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1994, 66, p 291
B. Tesi, T. Bacci, and G. Poli, Analysis of Surface Structures and of Size and Shape Variations in Ionitrided Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel Samples, Vacuum, 1985, 35(8), p 307
Y. Sun and T. Bell, Plasma Surface Engineering of a Low-Alloy Steel, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 1991, 140, p 419
Y. Sun, T. Bell, and G. Wood, Wear Behaviour of Plasma-Nitrided Martensitic Stainless Steel, Wear, 1994, 178, p 131
D. Manova, G. Thorwarth, S. Mandl, H. Neumann, B. Stritzker, and B. Rauschenbach, Variable Lattice Expansion in Martensitic Stainless Steel After Nitrogen Ion Implantation, Nucl. Instrum. Methods B, 2006, 242, p 285
R.B. Frandsen, T. Christiansen, and M.A.J. Somers, Simultaneous Surface Engineering, Bulk Hardening of Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2006, 200, p 5160
Y. Sun and T. Bell, Low Temperature Plasma Nitriding Characteristics of Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel, Surf. Eng., 2003, 19(5), p 331
H. Dong, M. Esfandiari, and X.Y. Li, On the Microstructure and Phase Identification of Plasma Nitrided 17-4PH Precipitation Hardening Stainless Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2008, 202, p 2969
P. Kochmański and J. Nowacki, Activated Gas Nitriding of 17-4PH Stainless Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2006, 200, p 6558
K. Marusic, H. Otmacic, D. Landek, and F. Cajner, Modification of Carbon Steel Surface by the Tenifer® Process of Nitrocarburizing and Post-oxidation, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2006, 201, p 3415
H.Y. Li, D.F. Luo, C.F. Yeung, and K.H. Lau, Advanced QPQ Complex Salt Bath Heat Treatment, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 1997, 69, p 45
C.F. Yeung, K.H. Lau, H.Y. Li, and D.F. Luo, Microstructural Studies of QPQ Complex Salt Bath Heat-Treated Steels, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 1997, 66, p 249
C. Blawert, A. Weisheit, B.L. Mordike, and R.M. Knoop, Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation of Stainless Steel: Austenitic Stainless Steel in Comparison to Austenitic-Ferritic Stainless Steel, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1996, 85, p 15–27
B. Larisch, U. Brusky, and H.J. Spies, Plasma Nitriding of Stainless Steels at Low Temperatures, Surf Coat Technol., 1999, 116–119, p 205
C.E. Foerster, F.C. Serbena, S.L.R. da Silva, C.M. Lepienski, C.J. de M. Siqueira, and M. Ueda, Mechanical and Tribological Properties of AISI 304 Stainless Steel Nitrided by Glow Discharge Compared to Ion Implantation and Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation, Nucl. Instrum. Methods B, 2007, 257, p 732
K. Stiller, M. Hattestrand, and F. Danoix, Precipitation in 9Ni-12Cr-2Cu Maraging Steels, Acta Mater., 1998, 46, p 6063
C.N. Hsiao, C.S. Chiou, and J.R. Yong, Aging Reactions in a 17-4 PH Stainless Steel, Mater. Chem. Phys., 2002, 74, p 132
V.I. Dimitrov, J. Dhaen, G. Knuyt, C. Quaeyhaegens, and L.M. Stals, A Method for Determination of the Effective Diffusion Coefficient and Sputtering Rate During Plasma Diffusion Treatment, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1998, 99, p 23
E. Menthe and K.-T. Rie, Further Investigation of the Structure and Properties of Austentic Stainless Steel After Plasma Nitriding, Surf. Coat. Technol., 1999, 116–119, p 199
Acknowledgments
The authors are very grateful to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50901047), the Ph.D. Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education of china (Grant No. 2008006101051) for financial support of this research work. And the author (J.W.) would like to thank Prof. Xiong Ji of Sichuan University, China for their valuable discussions during the course of the research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, J., Lin, Y., Fan, H. et al. Effects of Temperature on Microstructure and Wear of Salt Bath Nitrided 17-4PH Stainless Steel. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 21, 1708–1713 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-011-0077-z
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-011-0077-z