• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.263-268
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• 2010

This investigation was focused on the low temperature tensile properties, phase change, changes in nitrogen content and corrosion resistance in the 22Cr-5Ni-3Mo duplex stainless steel after high temperature gas nitriding and solution annealing (HTGN-SA). From the HTGN-SA treatment, the duplex (ferrite + austenite) phase changed into austenite single phase. The nitrogen content of austenite single-phase steel showed a value of ~0.54%. For the HTGN-SA treated austenitic steel, tensile strength increased with lowering test temperature, on the other hand elongation showed the maximum value of 28.2% at $-100^{\circ}C$. The strain-induced martensitic transformation gave rise to lead the maximum elongation. After HTGN-SA treatment, corrosion resistance of the austenite single-phase steel increased remarkably compared with HTGN- treated steel.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.282-289
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• 2009

The effects of the high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN), tempering and subzero treatment of STD11 steel have been investigated. HTGN treatment was carried out at $1050^{\circ}C$, $1100^{\circ}C$ and $1150^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr. in an atmosphere of $1\;kg/cm^2$ nitrogen gas. Tempering and double-tempering were performed at $550^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr. The surface layer of HTGN-treated steel appeared the precipitates of $M_2N$, $M_7C_3$ and $M_{23}C_6$ in the matrix of austenite. However, the interior region exhibited martensite with the precipitation of carbides. The nitrogen content of the surface layer appeared ~1.35 wt.%, ~0.83 wt.% and ~0.56 wt.% at the HTGN treatment temperature of $1050^{\circ}C$, $1100^{\circ}C$ and $1150^{\circ}C$, respectively. The surface hardness of double-tempered and subzero-treated steel measured the maximum value of 828 Hv, 960 Hv, 750 HV after HTGN treatment at the $1050^{\circ}C$, $1100^{\circ}C$ and $1150^{\circ}C$, respectively. These hardness value increased above 230~420 Hv compared with the HTGN-treated steel due to the decrease in retained austenite and existence of fine precipitates.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.105-112
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• 2013

The microstructural changes of Fe-20Mn-12Cr-1Cu alloy have been studied during high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) at the range of $1000^{\circ}C{\sim}1150^{\circ}C$ in an atmosphere of nitrogen gas. The mixed microstructure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite of as-received alloy was changed to austenite single phase after HTGN treatment at the nitrogen-permeated surface layer, however the interior region that was not affected nitrogen permeation remained the structure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite. With raising the HTGN treatment temperature, the concentration and permeation depth of nitrogen, which is known as the austenite stabilizing element, were increased. Accordingly, the depth of austenite single phase region was increased. The outmost surface of HTGN treated alloy at $1000^{\circ}C$ appeared Cr nitride. And this was in good agreement with the thermodynamically calculated phase diagram. The grain growth was delayed after HTGN treatment temperature ranges of $1000^{\circ}C{\sim}1100^{\circ}C$ due to the grain boundary precipitates. For the HTGN treatment temperature of $1150^{\circ}C$, the fine grain region was shown at the near surface due to the grain boundary precipitates, however, owing to the depletion of grain boundary precipitates, coarse grain was appeared at the depth far from the surface. This depletion may come from the strong affinity between nitrogen and substitutional element of Al and Ti leading the diffusion of these elements from interior to surface. Because of the nitrogen dissolution at the nitrogen-permeated surface layer by HTGN treatment, the surface hardness was increased above 150 Hv compared to the interior region that was consisted with the mixed microstructure of austenite and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.244-250
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• 2008

This study has investigated the surface phase change, hardness variation, surface precipitates, nitrogen content and corrosion resistance in STS 431 (17Cr-2Ni-0.2C-0.01Nb) martensitic stainless steel after high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) treatment at the temperature range between $1050^{\circ}C$ and $1150^{\circ}C$. The HTGN-treated surface layer appeared $Cr_2N$ of rod type, carbo-nitride of round type and fine precipitates in the austenite matrix. On the other hand the interior region where the nitrogen was not permeated, exhibited martensite phase. The surface hardness showed 250~590 HV, depending on the HTGN treatment conditions, while the interior martensitic phase represented 520 HV. The permeation depth of nitrogen increased with increasing the HTGN-treated temperature. The nitrogen concentration of the surface layer appeared approximately ~0.17% at $1100^{\circ}C$. On comparing the corrosion resistance between solution-annealed and HTGN-treated steels, the corrosion resistance of HTGN-treated steel was superior to that of solution-annealed specimens.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.708-712
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• 2008

The influence of high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) in STS347 and STS310S steels was experimentally investigated. The HTGN was carried out at $1,050^{\circ}C{\sim}1,150^{\circ}C$ for 10 hrs in a gaseous atmosphere containing $1kg/mm^2$ of nitrogen. After HTGN, fine precipitates of $Cr_2N$ and NbN appeared in austenite on the surface of STS 347, while nitrogen pearlite, which was layeredof $Cr_2N$ and austenite alternatively, appeared in austenite on the surface of STS 310S. The surface hardness of HTGN-treated, STS 347 and STS 310S specimens was 250~360 Hv and 270~400 Hv, respectively, depending on the temperature of HTGN. The nitrogen content was analyzed 1.4 wt% and 1.6 wt% at the surface layer of STS 347 and STS 310S steels, respectively. In addition, an improvement in the corrosion resistance of HTGN treated specimens was observed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.115-120
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• 2012

It has been known that the ferritic stainless steel can be changed to martensitic stainless steel when nitrogen is added. However the high hardness of martensitic stainless steel prevents the plastic deformation. In this study, instead of martensite, the surface microstructure was changed into nitrogen pearlite to increase the plastic deformation easily by isothermal heat treatment after high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) the AISI 430 ferritic stainless steel. The isothermal treatment was carried out at $780^{\circ}C$ for 4, 6, and 10 hrs, respectively, after HTGN treatment at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 10 hrs. The surface layer of isothermal-treated steel appeared nitrogen pearlite composed with fine chromium nitride and ferrite. Hence, the interior region that was not affected by nitrogen permeation exhibited ferrite phase. When quenching the isothermal treated steel at 1100oC, martensitic phase formed at the surface layer. The hardness of surface layer of isothermal-treated steel and quenched steel measured the value of 150~240 Hv and 630 Hv, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.311-317
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• 2007

This study examined the phase changes, nitride precipitation and variation in mechanical properties of STS 304, STS 321 and STS 316L austenitic stainless steels after high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) at temperature ranges from $1050^{\circ}C\;to\;1150^{\circ}C$. Fine round type of $Cr_2N$ nitrides were observed in the surface layers of 304 and 316L steels, even more in STS 321. Additionally, square type of TiN was found in STS 321 austenitic matrix too. As a result of many precipitates in the surface layer of the STS 321, it was seen $370{\sim}470Hv$ hardness variation depending on the HTGN treatment conditions, and interior region of austenite represented 150Hv. The surface hardness value of STS 304 and STS 316L showed $255{\sim}320Hv$, respectively. The nitrogen content was shown 0.27, 1.7 and 0.4% respectively at the surface layers of the STS 304, STS 321 and STS 316L. After the HTGN it was shown the improvement of corrosion resistance of the STS 321 and STS 316L compared with solution annealed steels in the solution of 1N $H_2SO_4$ whereas the STS 304 was not.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2009

The effect of high temperature gas nitrding (HTGN) on the surface microstructure in pure Ti was investigated. Two phases of TiN and $Ti_2N$ appeared at the outmost surface, and the wide ${\alpha}$-Ti layer was formed at the next layer. On the other hand, the interior region, where the nitrogen was not permeated, exhibited ${\alpha}$'phase. The outmost surface of TiN and $Ti_2N$ showed the maximum hardness of 1000Hv, while the interior ${\alpha}$'phase was ${\sim}350$ Hv. The permeation depth of nitrogen increased with increasing the gas nitriding temperature and time. The nitrogen concentration of the surface layer seems to be over 12.7% at $1100^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.318-326
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• 2011

This study has been performed to investigate the effect of Al addition on High Temperature Gas Nitriding (HTGN) in 13%Cr-0.16%C stainless steel with different Al contents of 0.54%, 1.76% and 2.36%, respectively. HTGN treatment was carried out at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr, 5 hrs and 10 hrs. Nitrogen-permeated surface layers showed round type carbides of $Cr_{23}C_6$ and needle type nitrides of AlN in the matrix of martensite, representing 600~700 Hv. And the thickness of the surface layer increased with increasing Al content and HTGN treatment time. The inner region that was not permeated nitrogen showed chromium carbides in the mixed phase of martensite and ferrite for the 0.53% Al alloyed steel, however chromium carbides in the matrix of ferrite single phase were shown for the steels with the addition of 1.76%Al and 2.36%Al, representing the hardness of ~200 Hv. During nitrogen permeation from surface to the interior, substitutional elements of Cr, Al and Si moved toward the surface and interstitial element of carbon also moved from interior to the surface. This movement of alloying elements leads high concentration of these elements at the outmost surface, subsequently the lowest peak of substitutional elements were shown in the vicinity of near surface. After showing the lowest peak, the high concentration region of Al and C were formed due to the continuous movement of Al toward the surface. The long discontinuous precipitates of $Cr_{23}C_6$ and AlN were formed along the outmost surface owing to the high concentration of these alloying elements.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.323-328
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• 2007

This study has been investigated the effect of high temperature gas nitriding (HTGN) heat treatment of STS 444 (18Cr-0.01Ni-0.01C-0.2Nb) ferritic stainless steel in an atmosphere of nitrogen gas at the temperature range between $1050^{\circ}C\;and\;1150^{\circ}C$. The surface layer was changed into martensite and austenite with the nitrides of NbCrN by HTGN treatment. Due to the precipitation of nitrides and matrensite formation, the hardness of the surface layer showed $400Hv{\sim}530Hv$. The nitrogen concentration of the surface layer appeared as 0.05%, 0.12% and 0.92%, respectively, at $1050^{\circ}C,\;1100^{\circ}C\;and\;1150^{\circ}C$. When the nitrogen is permeated from surface to interior, Nb and Cr, which have strong affinities with nitrogen, also move from interior to surface. Therefore it is considered that this counter-current of atoms promotes the formation of NbCrN at the surface layer.