• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.307-314
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• 2021

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is difficult to achieve sufficient adhesion because of weak bonding between DLC film and the substrate. The purpose of this study is to improve the adhesion between substrate and DLC film. DLC film was deposited on AISI H13 using linear ion source. To improve adhesion, the substrate was treated by dual post plasma nitriding. In order to define the mechanism of the improvement in adhesive strength, the gradient layer between substrate and DLC film was analyzed by Glow Discharge Spectrometer (GDS) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The microstructure of the DLC film was analyzed using a micro Raman spectrometer. Mechanical properties were measured by nano-indentation, micro vickers hardness tester and tribology tester. The characteristic of adhesion was observed by scratch test. The adhesion of the DLC film was enhanced by active screen plasma nitriding layer.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.116-121
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• 2009

The 2-step low temperature plasma processes (the combined carburizing and post-nitriding) offer the increase of both surface hardness and thickness of hardened layer and corrosion resistance than the individually processed low temperature nitriding and low temperature carburizing techniques. The 2-step low temperature plasma processes were carried out for improving both the surface hardness and corrosion resistance of AISI 316L stainless steel. The influence of gas compositions on the surface properties during nitriding step were investigated. The expanded austenite (${\gamma}_N$) was formed on all of the treated surface. The thickness of ${\gamma}_N$ and concentration of N on the surface increased with increasing both nitrogen gas and Ar gas levels in the atmosphere. The thickness of ${\gamma}_N$ increased up to about $20{\mu}m$ and the thickness of entire hardened layer was determined to be about $40{\mu}m$. The surface hardness was independent of nitrogen and Ar gas contents and reached up to about 1200 $HV_{0.1}$ which is about 5 times higher than that of untreated sample (250 $HV_{0.1}$). The corrosion resistance in 2-step low temperature plasma processed austenitic stainless steels was also much enhanced than that in the untreated austenitic stainless steels due to a high concentration of N on the surface.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.286-293
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• 1999

This study was to analyse the relationship between process parameters of the sintered composite and plasma nitriding properties with pulsed DC plasma. Fe-40at%$SiC_p$ composites of full density were fabricated by hot pressing at 1100~$1150^{\circ}C$. Sintered Fe-40at%Al and Fe-40at%$Al/SiC_p$ alloys were nitrided under pulsed DC plasma. Excellent surface hardness in the FeAl alloys could be obtained by plasma nitriding. ($H_v$ :100gf, diffusion layer : 1100~$1450kg/mm^2$, matrix : 330~$360kg/mm^2$) The wear resistance of $FeAl/SiC_p$ composites were improved about by 4~6times than FeAl and nitrided $FeAl/SiC_p$ were improved about 2 times than $FeAl/SiC_p$ matrix.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.282-286
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• 2014

Wear characteristic of the nitrided SKD61 which is a typical mold material using for the extrusion of Al6061 alloy was investigated. The surface of SKD61 was nitrided by salt bath and plasma processes. The thickness of surface nitride layer was about $8.9{\mu}m{\sim}21.3{\mu}m$. Reciprocating friction wear test conducted using pin on disk type indicated the plasma treatment followed salt bath has a lower friction coefficient and a smaller adhesive wear with Al6061 alloy. That was identified by the $Fe_4N$ which has a better wear resistance than FeN mainly formed by plasma nitriding.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.43-51
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• 2000

The effect of time, temperature and gas composition on the case hardened thickness, hardness and nitride formation in the surface of ductile cast iron(GCD400) have been studied by micro-pulse plasma technique. Typically, external compound layer and internal diffusion layer which is much thicker than compound layer was observed in the nitride hardening of ductile cast iron. The relative amount kind of phases formed in the nitrided hardening changed with the change of nitriding conditions. Generally, only nitride phases such as $\gamma^'$($Fe_4N$), or $\varepsilon$($Fe_{2-3}N$) phases were detected in compound layer by XRD analysis. The thickness of compound layer increased with the increase of nitrogen content in the gas composition. The optimum nitriding temperature was obtained at $520^{\circ}C$. The nitrided hardening thickness parabolically with nitriding time(t) and thus, the case hardened layer(d) fits well with the typical parabolic equation ; d=kt. The material constant k for GCD400 nitrided at $520^{\circ}C$ was $0.04919\times10^3{\mu}m.hr^{-1/2}$.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

In this study, effect of sputtering after plasma nitriding and before PVD coating on the microstucture, microhardness, surface roughness and the adhesion strength of CrN thin films were investigated. Experimental results showed that this sputtering process not only removed surface compound layer which formed during a plasma nitriding process but also induced an alteration of the surface of plasma nitrided substrate in terms of microhardness distribution and surface roughness, which in turn affected the adhesion strength of PVD coatings. After sputtering, microhardness distribution showed general decrease and the surface roughness became increased slightly. The critical shear stress measured from the scratch test on the CrN coatings showed an approximately twice increase in the binding strength through the sputtering prior to the coating and this could be attributed to a complete removal of compound layer from the plasma nitrided surface and to an increase in the surface roughness after sputtering.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.447-451
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• 2002

Pulsed DC-plasma nitriding has been applied to form nitride layer having only a diffusion layer. The discharge current with the variation of discharge gases is proportional to the intensity of $N_2^+$ peak in optical emission spectroscopy during the plasma nitriding. The discharge current, microhardness in surface of substrate and depth of nitride layer increased with the ratio of $N_2\;to\;H_2$ gas in discharge gases. When the ratio of $N_2\;to\;H_2$ is lower than 60% in the discharge gases, high microhardness value of 1100Hv nitride layer which contains no compound layer has been formed.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2012

This study has been performed on the full density sintering of Fe nanopowder and the surface hardening by plasma ion nitriding. The Fe sintered part was fabricated by pressureless sintering of the Fe nanopowder at $700^{\circ}C$ in which the nanopowder agglomerates were controlled to have 0.5-5 ${\mu}m$ sized agglomerates with 150 nm Fe nanopowders. The green compact with 46% theoretical density(T.D.) showed a homogeneous microstructure with fine pores below 1 ${\mu}m$. After sintering, the powder compact underwent full densification process with above 98%T.D. and uniform nanoscale microstructure. This enhanced sintering is thought to be basically due to the homogeneous microstructure in the green compact in which the large pores are removed by wet-milling. Plasma ion nitriding of the sintered part resulted in the formation of ${\gamma}$'-$Fe_4N$ equilibrium phase with about 12 ${\mu}m$ thickness, leading to the surface hardening of the sintered Fe part. The surface hardness was remarkably increased from 176 $H_v$ for the matrix to 365 $H_v$.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.480-490
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• 2003

Effects of plasma-nitriding on the pitting corrosion of Fe-30at%Al-5at%Cr alloy containing Ti, Hf, and Zr were investigated using potentiostat in 0.1M HCl. The specimen was casted by the vacuum arc melting. The subsequent homogenization was carried out in Ar gas atmosphere at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 7days and phase stabilizing heat treatment was carried out in Ar gas atmosphere at $500^{\circ}C$ for 5 days. The specimen was nitrided in the $N_2$, and $H_2$, (1:1) mixed gas of $10^{-4}$ torr at $480^{\circ}C$ for 10 hrs. After the corrosion tests, the surface of the tested specimens were observed by the optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). For Fe-30at%Al-5Cr alloy, the addition of Hf has equi-axied structure and addition of Zr showed dendritic structure. For Fe-30at%Al-5Cr alloy containing Ti, plasma nitriding proved beneficial to decrease the pitting corrosion attack by increasing pitting potential due to formation of TiN film. Addition of Hf and Zr resulted in a higher activation current density and also a lower pitting potential. These results indicated the role of dendritic structure in decreasing the pitting corrosion resistance of Fe-30Al-5Cr alloy. Ti addition to Fe-30Al-5Cr decreased the number and size of pits. In the case of Zr and Hf addition, the pits nucleated remarkably at dendritic branches.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.615-620
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• 1996

Chromium-Molybdenum steel was plasma-nitrided at 823 K for 10.8 ks in an atmosphere of 30% $N_2$-70% $H_2$ gas under 665 Pa without and with a subsidiary cathode of $MoS_2$ to compare ion-nitriding and plasma-sulfnitriding using subsidiary cathode. When the steel was ion-nitrided without $MoS_2$, iron nitride layer of 4$\mu\textrm{m}$ and nitrogen diffusion layer of 400mm were formed on the steel. A compound layer of 15$\mu\textrm{m}$ and nitrogen diffusion layer of 400$\mu\textrm{m}$ were formed on the surface of the steel plasma-sulfnitrided with subsidiary cathode of $MoS_2$. The compound layer consisted of FeS containing Mo and iron nitrides. The nitrides of $\varepsilon$-$Fe_2$, $_3N$ and $\gamma$-$Fe_4N$ formed under the FeS. The thicker compound layer was formed by plasma-sulfnitriding than ion-nitriding. In plasma-sulfnitriding, the surface hardness was about 730 Hv. The surface hardness of the steel plasma-sulfnitrided with $MoS_2$ was lower than that of ion-nitrided without $MoS_2$. This may be due to the soft FeS layer formed on the surface of the plasma-sulfnitrided steel.