• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.568-572
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• 2002

Plasma sulfnitriding technology was employed to harden the surface of SKD61 steel. The plasma sulfnitriding was performed with 3 torr gas pressure at $580^{\circ}C$ for 20 hours. Plasma sulfnitriding resulted in the formation of very thin $2-3\mu\textrm{m}$ FeS sulfide layer on top of $15-20\mu\textrm{m}$ compound layer, which consisted of predominantly $\varepsilon$- $Fe{2-3}$ N and a second phase of $\Upsilon'-Fe_4$N. In comparision with plasma nitriding treatment, plasma sulfnitriding treatment showed better surface roughness and corrosion resistance due to the presence of the thin FeS layer. which coated microvoids and microcracks on top of the nitrided layer. It was also found that plasma sulfnitrided sample showed better wear resistance due to the presence of the thin FeS layer which acted as a solid lubricant.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.69-69
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• 2001

We report a study of the nitriding of the martensitic grade of stainless steel AKSK 420 in a low-pressure rl discharge using pure nitrogen. Much studied samples of the austenitic grade AISI 304 were treated at the same time to provide a comparison. With a treatment time of 4.0 h at $400^{\circ}C$, the nitrogen-rich layer on MSK 420 is 20pm thick and has a hardness about 4.3 times higher than that of the untreated material. The layer thickness is much greater than that obtained on AISI 304 under identical treatment conditions, reflecting the different Cr content of the two alloys. The alloy AlISI 420 is more susceptible than AISI 304 to the formation of CrN and ferrite, and this has a deleterious effect on the hardnes, gain. Below the temperature at which CrN forms, the treated layer retains its martensitic structure, but with a larger lattice parameter than the bulk, a phase that we term expanded martensite, by analogy with the situation with austenitic stainless steel. The fact that the treated layer retains a martensitic structure is interesting in view of previous evidence that nitrogen is an austenite stabilizer.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.11
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• pp.716-721
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• 2009

The major drive for the application of low-temperature plasma treatment in nitrocarburizing of austenitic stainless steels lies in improved surface hardness without degraded corrosion resistance. The low-temperature plasma nitrocarburizing was performed in a gas mixture of $N_{2}$, $H_{2}$, and carbon-containing gas such as $CH_{4}$ at $450^{\circ}C$. The influence of the processing time (5~30 h) and $N_{2}$ gas composition (15~35%) on the surface properties of the nitrocarburized layer was investigated. The resultant nitrocarburized layer was a dual-layer structure, which was comprised of a N-enriched layer (${\gamma}_N$) with a high nitrogen content on top of a C-enriched layer (${\gamma}_C$) with a high carbon content, leading to a significant increase in surface hardness. The surface hardness reached up to about $1050HV_{0.01}$, which is about 4 times higher than that of the untreated sample ($250HV_{0.01}$). The thickness of the hardened layer increased with increasing treatment time and $N_{2}$ gas level in the atmosphere and reached up to about $25{\mu}m$. In addition, the corrosion resistance of the treated samples without containing $Cr_{2}N$ precipitates was enhanced than that of the untreated samples due to a high concentration of N on the surface. However, longer treatment time (25% $N_{2}$, 30 h) and higher $N_{2}$ gas composition (35% $N_{2}$, 20 h) resulted in the formation of $Cr_{2}N$ precipitates in the N-enriched layer, which caused the degradation of corrosion resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.292-296
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• 2000

Mechenochemical reaction by planetary type ball mill is applied to prepare $Sm_2$$Fe_{17}$$N_{x}$ permanent magnet powders. Starting from pure samarium and iron powders, the formation process of hard magnetic $Sm_2$$Fe_{17}$$N_{x}$ phase by ball milling and a subsequent solid state reaction were studied. At as-milled stage powders were found to consist of amorphous Sm-Fe and $\alpha$-Fe phases in all composition of $Sm_2$$Fe_{100-x}$(x = 11, 13, 15). The dependence of starting composition of elemental powder on the formation of Sm-Fe intermetallic compound was investigated by heat treatment of as-milled powders. When Sm concentration was 15 at%, heat-treated powder consists of mostly $Sm_2$$Fe_{17}$$N_{x}$single phase. For synthesizing of hard magnetic $Sm_2$$Fe_{17}$$N_{x}$ compound, additional nitriding treatment was carried out under $N_2$gas atmosphere at $450^{\circ}C$. The increase in the coercivity and remanence was parallel to the nitrogen content which increased drastically at first and then gradually as the nitriding time was extended. The ball-milled Sm-Fe-N powders were expected to be prospective materials for synthesizing of permanent magnet with high performance.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2020

Various aging treatments were conducted on AISI 630 martensitic precipitation hardening stainless steel in order to optimize aging condition. Aging treatment was carried out in the vacuum chamber of Ar gas with changing aging temperature from 380℃ to 430℃ and aging time from 2h to 8h at 400℃. After obtaining the optimized aging condition, several nitrocarburizing treatments were done without and with the aging treatment. Nitrocarburizing was performed on the samples with a gas mixture of H₂, N₂ and CH₄ for 15 h at vacuum pressure of 4.0 Torr and discharge voltage of 400V. The corrosion resistance was improved noticeably by combined process of aging and nitrocarburizing treatment, which is attributed to higher chromium and nitrogen content in the passive layer, as confirmed by XPS analysis. The optimized condition is finalized as, 4h aging at 400℃ and then subsequent nitrocarburizing at 400℃ with 25% nitrogen and 4% methane gas for 15h at vacuum pressure of 4.0 Torr and discharge voltage of 400V, resulting in the surface hardness of around 1300 HV_0.05 and α'_N layer thickness of around 11 ㎛ respectively.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.692-698
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• 2011

The thermo-chemical treatment (TCT) process was applied to achieve surface hardening of CP titanium. The following three different surface modification conditions were tested so that the best surface hardening process could be selected:(a) PVD, (b) TCT+PVD, and (c) TCT+Aging+PVD. These specimens were tested and analyzed in terms of surface roughness, wear, friction coefficient, and the gradient of hardening from the surface of the matrix. The three test conditions were all beneficial to improve the surface hardness of CP titanium. Moreover, the TCT treated specimens, that is, (b) and (c), showed significantly improved surface hardness and low friction coefficients through the thickness up to $100{\mu}m$. This is due to the functionally gradient hardened surface improvement by the diffused interstitial elements. The hardened surface also showed improvement in bonding between the PVD and TCT surface, and this leads to improvement in wear resistance. However, TCT after aging treatment did not show much improvement in surface properties compared to TCT only. For the best surface hardening on CP titanium, TCT+PVD has advantages in surface durability and economics.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 1999

The surface nitrogen permeation of Al alloyed 0.14%C-13%Cr stainless steels was investigated after heat treating at $1050^{\circ}C{\sim}1150^{\circ}C$ in the nitrogen gas atmosphere. The strong affinity between Al and nitrogen permeates the nitrogen through the interior of the steels. Two precipitates of round type and needle type are observed at the surface layer. These precipitates mainly consist of AlN containing plenty of aluminum. The surface layer of 0.53%Al alloyed specimen shows ferrite phase, while the surface layers of 1.65%Al and 2.27%Al alloyed specimens appear ${\gamma}$ plus ${\alpha}$ phases. The depth of nitrogen permeation depends upon the Al content and microstructure of the matrix. The 1.65%Al alloyed specimen representing ${\alpha}+{\gamma}$ matrix phases at the nitrogen permeation temperature shows the maximum case depth in this experiment. Although the surface hardness increases by raising the Al content of the specimen owing to the increase of nitride precipitation density, the nitride precipitation deteriorates the corrosion resistance in the solution of HCl, $H_2SO_4$, and $FeCl_3$.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2000

This study aims to investigate the effect of carbon content on the surface nitrogen permeation of 13%Cr-1.8%Al alloyed stainless steels. The surface nitrogen permeation was performed at $1050^{\circ}C{\sim}1200^{\circ}C$ in the $1kg/cm^2$ nitrogen gas atmosphere. The nitrogen permeated surface layer of the specimen containing 0.03%C consists of AlN, martensite and retained austenite phases. while the surface layer of the specimen containing 0.14%C appears the $AlFe_3C_x$ phase including former three phases. The specimen containing 0.14%C shows lower total case depth than that containing 0.03%C at the nitrogen permeation temperatures of $1050^{\circ}C$ and $1100^{\circ}C$, while the total case depth of the specimen containing 0.14%C is remarkably increased at the temperature of $1150^{\circ}C$ and $1200^{\circ}C$ due to the increase in the retained austenite content. Martensitic phase, AlN and $AlFe_3C_x$ precipitate of the nitrogen permeated surface layer cause to increase the surface hardness of 550~600Hv.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2014.11a
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• pp.202-203
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• 2014

금형 내부의 마모를 줄이기 위한 경질 박막의 안정성 향상과 표면에 인가된 압축 잔류 응력이 고주기 피로 특성에 미치는 영향을 연구하기 위해 정밀 플라스틱 사출 금형강에 주로 사용되는 Fe-3.0%Ni-0.7%Cr-1.4%Mn-X강에 스크린 질화처리와 DLC 코팅을 시간과 단일, 복합처리의 변수를 두어 코팅하였다. PAPVD법으로 DLC($3{\mu}m$), 스크린 질화(3h, $50{\mu}m$)/DLC($3{\mu}m$) 코팅 후 고주기 피로 시험을 행하여 고주기 피로 특성을 평가하였다. 스크래치 시험, 마모 시험, 잔류응력 측정을 통해 질화 처리 여부에 따른 코팅의 안정성을 평가하였다. DLC, 스크린질화/DLC 코팅한 경우 압축 잔류 응력의 영향으로 모두 피로 수명이 향상되었고 스크린질화/DLC 코팅한 경우 그 향상폭은 더 컸다. 질화 처리 후 DLC 코팅한 경우 질화층은 버퍼레이어로 작용하여 코팅의 박리를 억제함을 확인하였다.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.265-269
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• 2004

Plasma nitrocarburising and post oxidation were performed on SCM435 steel by a pulsed plasma ion nitriding system. Plasma oxidation resulted in the formation of a very thin ferritic oxide layer 1-2 $\mu\textrm{m}$ thick on top of a 15～25 $\mu\textrm{m}$ $\varepsilon$-F $e_{2-3}$(N,C) nitrocarburized compound layer. The growth rate of oxide layer increased with the treatment temperature and time. However, the oxide layer was easily spalled from the compound layer either for both oxidation temperatures above $450^{\circ}C$, or for oxidation time more than 2 hrs at oxidation temperature $400^{\circ}C$. It was confirmed that the relative amount of $Fe_2$$O_3$, compared with $e_3$$O_4$, increased rapidly with the oxidation temperature. The amounts of ${\gamma}$'-$Fe_4$(N,C) and $\theta$-$Fe_3$C, generated from dissociation from $\varepsilon$-$Fe_{2-3}$ /(N,C) phase during $O_2$ plasma sputtering, were also increased with the oxidation temperature.e.