INVESTIGATION INTO SOME TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PLASMA-NITRIDED HOT-WORKED TOOL STEEL AISI H11

Interest in the tribological properties of plasma nitriding has increa sed substantially over the past years because plasma nitriding provide s a high nitride depth and improved hard facing. The present study exa mines the tribological properties of AISI H11 plasma nitrided, hot-wor ked steel. Different nitriding temperatures and durations were conside red. Characterization of the composite structures was investigated wit h wear tests, x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron micr oscopy (SEM), and microhardness tests. The depth profile of the nitrid ed zone was measured using the nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) techniq ue. Plasma nitriding affected the microhardness, wear properties, and morphology considerably. Increase in process temperature increased the nitride zone depth.