Thermochemical Surface Engineering of Steels

Eric J. Mittemeijer, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and Institute for Materials Science, University of Stuttgart, Germany. Marcel A. J. Somers, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark.

"...a welcome and extremely useful addition to the literature on surface engineering of steels. This book will be essential to all students and research scientists as well as production engineers." --International Journal of Materials Research

• About the editorsList of contributorsWoodhead Publishing Series in Metals and Surface EngineeringIntroductionPart One: Fundamentals1: Thermodynamics and kinetics of gas and gas–solid reactionsAbstract1.1 Introduction1.2 Equilibria for gas-exchange reactions1.3 Equilibria for gas–solid reactions1.4 Kinetics of gas-exchange reactions1.5 Kinetics of gas–solid reactions1.6 Phase stabilities in the Fe-N, Fe-C and Fe-C-N systems2: Kinetics of thermochemical surface treatmentsAbstract2.1 Introduction2.2 Development of an interstitial solid solution2.3 Precipitation of second phase particles in a supersaturated matrix2.4 Product-layer growth at the surface2.5 Conclusion3: Process technologies for thermochemical surface engineeringAbstract3.1 Introduction3.2 Different ways of achieving a hardened wear-resistant surface3.3 Furnaces3.4 Gaseous carburising3.5 Gaseous carbonitriding3.6 Gaseous nitriding and nitrocarburising3.7 Variants of gaseous nitriding and nitrocarburising3.8 Gaseous boriding3.9 Plasma assisted processes: plasma (ion) carburising3.10 Plasma (ion) nitriding/nitrocarburising3.11 Implantation processes (nitriding)3.12 Salt bath processes (nitrocarburising)3.13 Laser assisted nitriding3.14 Fluidised bed nitridingAcknowledgementsPart Two: Improved materials performance4: Fatigue resistance of carburized and nitrided steelsAbstract4.1 Introduction4.2 The concept of local fatigue resistance4.3 Statistical analysis of fatigue resistance4.4 Fatigue behavior of carburized microstructures4.5 Fatigue behavior of nitrided and nitrocarburized microstructures4.6 Conclusion5: Tribological behaviour of thermochemically surface engineered steelsAbstract5.1 Introduction5.2 Contact types5.3 Wear mechanisms5.4 Conclusions6: Corrosion behaviour of nitrided, nitrocarburised and carburised steelsAbstract6.1 Introduction6.2 Corrosion behaviour of nitrided and nitrocarburised unalloyed and low alloyed steels: introduction6.3 Nitriding processes and corrosion behaviour6.4 Structure and composition of compound layers and corrosion behaviour6.5 Post-oxidation and corrosion behaviour6.6 Passivation of nitride layers6.7 Corrosion behaviour in molten metals6.8 Corrosion behaviour of nitrided, nitrocarburised and carburised stainless steels: introduction6.9 Austenitic-ferritic and austenitic steels: corrosion in chloride-free solutions6.10 Austenitic-ferritic and austenitic steels: corrosion in chloride-containing solutions6.11 Ferritic, martensitic and precipitation hardening stainless steels6.12 ConclusionPart Three: Nitriding, nitrocarburizing and carburizing7: Nitriding of binary and ternary iron-based alloysAbstract7.1 Introduction7.2 Strong, intermediate and weak Me–N interaction7.3 Microstructural development of the compound layer in the presence of alloying elements7.4 Microstructural development of the diffusion zone in the presence of alloying elements7.5 Kinetics of diffusion zone growth in the presence of alloying elements7.6 Conclusion8: Development of the compound layer during nitriding and nitrocarburising of iron and iron-carbon alloysAbstract8.1 Introduction8.2 Compound layer formation during nitriding in a NH3/H2 gas mixture8.3 Nitrocarburising in gas8.4 Compound layer development during salt bath nitrocarburising8.5 Post-oxidation and phase transformations in the compound layer8.6 Conclusion9: Austenitic nitriding and nitrocarburizing of steelsAbstract9.1 Introduction9.2 Phase stability regions of nitrogen-containing austenite9.3 Phase transformation of nitrogen-containing austenite and its consequences for the process9.4 Phase stability and layer growth during austenitic nitriding and nitrocarburizing9.5 Properties resulting from austenitic nitriding and nitrocarburizing9.6 Solution nitriding and its application10: Classical nitriding of heat treatable steelAbstract10.1 Introduction10.2 Steels suitable for nitriding10.3 Microstructure and hardness improvement10.4 Nitriding-induced stress in steel10.5 Nitriding and improved fatigue life of steel11: Plasma-assisted nitriding and nitrocarburizing of steel and other ferrous alloysAbstract11.1 Introduction11.2 Glow discharge during plasma nitriding: general features11.3 Sputtering during plasma nitriding11.4 Practical aspects of sputtering and redeposition of the cathode material during plasma nitriding11.5 Plasma nitriding as a low-nitriding potential process11.6 Role of carbon-bearing gases and oxygen11.7 Practical aspects of differences in nitriding mechanism of plasma and gas nitriding processes11.8 Best applications of plasma nitriding and nitrocarburizing11.9 Methods for reducing plasma nitriding limitationsAcknowledgements12: ZeroFlow gas nitriding of steelsAbstract12.1 Introduction12.2 Improving gas nitriding of steels12.3 Current gas nitriding processes12.4 The principles of ZeroFlow gas nitriding12.5 Thermodynamic aspects of nitriding in atmospheres of NH3 and of two-component NH3 + H2 and NH3 + NH3diss. mixes12.6 Kinetic aspects of nitriding in atmospheres of NH3 and of two-component NH3 + H2 and NH3 + NH3diss. mixes12.7 Using the ZeroFlow process under industrial conditions12.8 Applications of the ZeroFlow method12.9 Conclusion13: Carburizing of steelsAbstract13.1 Introduction13.2 Gaseous carburizing13.3 Low pressure carburizing13.4 Hardening13.5 Tempering and sub-zero treatment13.6 Material properties13.7 Furnace technology13.8 ConclusionPart Four: Low temperature carburizing and nitriding14: Low temperature surface hardening of stainless steelAbstract14.1 Introduction14.2 The origins of low temperature surface engineering of stainless steel14.3 Fundamental aspects of expanded austenite15: Gaseous processes for low temperature surface hardening of stainless steelAbstract15.1 Introduction15.2 Surface hardening of austenitic stainless steel15.3 Residual stress in expanded austenite15.4 Prediction of nitrogen diffusion profiles in expanded austenite15.5 Surface hardening of stainless steel types other than austenite15.6 Conclusion and future trends16: Plasma-assisted processes for surface hardening of stainless steelAbstract16.1 Introduction16.2 Process principles and equipment16.3 Microstructure evolution16.4 Properties of surface hardened steels16.5 Conclusion and future trends17: Applications of low-temperature surface hardening of stainless steelsAbstract17.1 Introduction17.2 Applications in the nuclear industry17.3 Applications in tubular fittings and fasteners17.4 Miscellaneous applications17.5 ConclusionPart Five: Dedicated thermochemical surface engineering methods18: Boriding to improve the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of steelsAbstract18.1 Introduction18.2 Boriding of steels18.3 Mechanical characterisation of borided steels18.4 Corrosion resistance of steels exposed to boriding18.5 Conclusion19: The thermo-reactive deposition and diffusion process for coating steels to improve wear resistanceAbstract19.1 Introduction19.2 Growth behavior of coatings19.3 High temperature borax bath carbide coating19.4 High temperature fluidized bed carbide coating19.5 Low temperature salt bath nitride coating19.6 Properties of thermo-reactive deposition (TRD) carbide/nitride coated parts19.7 Applications19.8 Conclusion20: Sherardizing: corrosion protection of steels by zinc diffusion coatingsAbstract20.1 Introduction20.2 Pretreatment, surface preparation and processing20.3 Diffusion heat treatment20.4 Post-treatment, inspection and quality control20.5 Corrosion behavior and mechanical properties20.6 Applications21: Aluminizing of steel to improve high temperature corrosion resistanceAbstract21.1 Introduction21.2 Thermodynamics21.3 Kinetics21.4 Aluminizing of austenitic stainless steel – experimental examples21.5 Applications21.6 ConclusionAcknowledgementsIndex