Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Formation of Fe3N, Fe4N and Fe16N2 on the surface of iron

  • Published:
Metallurgical Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to clarify the phenomenon of nitride formation on the surface of iron, highly polished specimens of well refined and coarsened iron grains have nitrided in flowing H2 + NH3 gas. The morphology and the conditions for formation of Fe3N are clarified; it forms only on the surface of {lll}α or near {lll}α grains and grows in {112}α directions during nitriding treatment at temperatures between 450 and 550°C. Fe16N2 and Fe4N are also formed preferentially on the surfaces of {00l}α and {210}α grains, respectively. It is suggested that these iron surfaces are those satisfying the coherency relationships between nitrides and iron matrices. The morphologies and the formation temperature regions of Fe16N2 and Fe4N on the surface of iron are quite different to those observed in iron. In particular, Fe16N2, which has been generally accepted as metastable in bulk iron below 200°C, can exist even at temperatures from 450 to 500°C when it is formed on the surface of iron.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. L. J. Dijkstra:AIME Trans., 1949, vol. 185, p. 252.

    Google Scholar 

  2. C. A. Wert:J. Appl. Phys., 1949, vol. 20, p. 943.

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. C. A. Wert:Acta Met., 1954, vol. 2, p. 361.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. C. A. Wert:Thermodynamic in Physical Metallurgy, p. 178, A.S.M., 1950.

  5. K. Sakamoto, H. Kimura, and T. Sugeno:Jap. J. Appl. Phys., 1962, vol. 31, p. 530.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. T. Oi and K. Sato:Trans. Jap. Inst. Metals, 1966, vol. 7, p. 129.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. H. U. Astrom:Arkiv f. Fysik, 1954, vol. 8, p. 495.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. H. U. Astrom and G. Borelius:Acta Met., 1954, vol. 2, p. 547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Nacken and J. Rahmann:Arch. Eisenhüttenw., 1962, vol. 33, p. 131.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. CA. Wert:AIME Trans., 1951, vol. 191, p. 1179.

    Google Scholar 

  11. C. R. Booker, J. Norbury, and A. L. Sutton:J Iron Steel Inst., 1957, vol. 187, p. 205.

    Google Scholar 

  12. W. Pitsch:Arch. Eisenhüttenw., 1961, vol. 32, p. 493.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. A. S. Keh and H. A. Wriedt:Trans. TMS-AIME, 1962, vol. 224, p. 560.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. K. F. Hale and D. McLean:J. Iron SteelInst., 1963, vol. 201, p. 337.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. V. A. Phillips:Trans. ASM, 1963, vol. 56, p. 600.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. K. Tsuruoka, T. Abe, and Y. Hukao:Kawasaki Steel Technical Report, 1969, vol. l,p. 68.

    Google Scholar 

  17. A. Osawa and S. Iwaizumi:Z. f. Krist., 1928, vol. 69, p. 26.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. ASTM index according to S. B. Hendricks and P. R. Kosting:Z. f. Krist., 1930, vol. 74, p. 511.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. K. H. Jack:Acta Crystallogr., 1950, vol. 3, p. 392.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. ASTM index according to K. H. Jack:Proc. Royal Soc, 1948, vol. A195, p. 34.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. E. Lehrer:Z. Electrochem., 1930, vol. 36, p. 383, p. 460.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. M. Hansen and K. Anderko:Constitution of Binary Alloys, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  23. K. H. Jack:Acta Crystallogr., 1952, vol. 5, p. 404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. V. G. Paranjpe, M. Cohen, M. B. Bever, and C. F. Floce:AIME Trans., 1950. vol. 188, p. 261.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. S. Brunauer, M. E. Jefferson, P. H. Emmett, and S. B. Hendricks:J. Amer. Chem. Soc, 1931, vol. 53, p. 1778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. O. Eisenhut and E. Kaupp:Z. Electrochem., 1930, vol. 36, p. 392.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Y. Inokuti, M. Nishida, and N. Ohashi:Nipponkinzokugakai-koengaiyo, p. 26,Japan Inst. Metals, 1973, (in Japanese).

  28. R. F. Mehl, C. S. Barrett, and H. S. Jarabek:Trans. AIME, 1934, vol. 11, p. 211.

    Google Scholar 

  29. K. H. Jack:Proc. RoyalSoc, 1951, vol. A208, p. 216.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. K. H. Jack:Acta Crystallogr., 1950, vol. 3, p. 5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. I. Hrivak:Metal Treat., 1961, vol. 28, p. 175.

    Google Scholar 

  32. I. Hrivak: —ibid,, 1961, vol. 28, p. 233.

    Google Scholar 

  33. F. E. Fujita:Japan Inst. Metals, 1967, vol. 6, p. 647, (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratories, Kawasaki Steel Corporation, 280, Chiba, Japan

    Y. Inokuti (Senior Research Associates, Visiting Research Fellow), N. Nishida (Senior Research Associates) & N. Ōhashi (Manager of Sheet Section)

  2. Applied Sciences Laboratories, University of Sussex, BN1 9QT, Falmer, Brighton, UK

    Y. Inokuti (Senior Research Associates, Visiting Research Fellow)

Authors
  1. Y. Inokuti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. Nishida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Ōhashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Inokuti, Y., Nishida, N. & Ōhashi, N. Formation of Fe3N, Fe4N and Fe16N2 on the surface of iron. Metall Trans A 6, 773–784 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02672299

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02672299

Keywords

Search

Navigation