Nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation for surface treatment and wear protection of austenitic stainless steel X6CrNiTi1810

Plasma immersion ion implantation is an effective surface treatment for sta inless steels. The influence of treatment parameters (temperature, plasma d ensity and pressure) on the sliding wear resistance are studied here. At mo derate temperatures, nitrogen remains in solid solution without forming nit rides. This increases the surface hardness and the wear resistance without affecting the passivation of the steel. This may allow the use of such stee ls in applications where their poor wear resistance would normally prohibit their use. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.