A Study on the Duplex Treatment of Simultaneous Aluminizing-Chromizing and Plasma Nitriding for Improvement of Surface Properties

Al-Cr의 동시확산과 플라즈마 질화의 복합처리에의한 표면향상에 관한연구

A duplex surface treatment process of simultaneous aluminizing-chromizing process followed by plasma nitriding was performed on AISI HI3 steel and STS 403 steel. The properties of these duplex-treated steels were investigated and were compared with those of steels treated by single process of either simultaneous aluminizing-chromizing or plasma nilriding, in terms of microstructure, microhardness and high temperature wear resistance. Sim~dtaneous alumizing-chromizing process was done using a 2-step coating cycle and plasma nitriding process was done at $530^{\circ}C$ for 1.5 hour. AISI HI3 steel and STS 403 steel showed a FeA1 compound layer of approximately 350$\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness on the surface after simultaneous diffusion coating and nitrided layer of approximately 70-80$\mu\textrm{m}$ formed after the subsequent plasma nitriding process. The microhardness was improved much more by the duplex surface heatment than only by plasma nitriding. In addition the duplex treated specimens showed an improved high temperature wear resistance.