Measurements of Residual Stress in Nitrocarburised Layer Formed in Hot Work Tool Steel

열간가공 공구강에 형성된 침질탄화층의 잔류응력 측정

This study has been performed to investigate into some effects of various amounts of $CO_2$ and CO gas added to the $50%NH_3-N_2$ based gas atmosphere on microstructure, hardness, chemical analysis and residual stress in the compound and diffusion layer of AISI H13 treated by gaseous nitrocarburising process. The compound layer formed in the surface is composed of mainly ${\varepsilon}-Fe_3$(N,C) and small amount of ${\gamma}^{\prime}-Fe_4N$ and cementite. The maximum hardness value obtainable from H13 steel is shown to be 1200 Hv and the effecvtive hardening depth increases with increasing CO content from 1% to 4%. In the case of CO content over 4%, however, it decreases with increasing CO content. The composition profiles of nitrogen and carbon are found to be within the ${\varepsilon}$-phase field located above the ${\varepsilon}+{\gamma}^{\prime}$ phase field in the Fe-N-C diagram. It is shown that the maximum value of compressive residual stress of H13 steel treated in atmospheres of $50%NH_3-(2,4)%CO_2-N_2-CO$ gas mixture is $48kg/mm^2$ and the depth to which residual stress is in Compressive state is $90{\mu}m$ for the atmosphere $50%NH_3-45%N_2-4%CO_2-1%CO$ gas mixture. It is consequently important to control the maximum value and size of compressive residual stress region in order to obtain desirable mechanical properties.