Arc plasma nitriding of low carbon steel

Arc plasma nitriding of low carbon steel was carried out in the temperature range 1000-1100 degreesC under different gas (Ar, N-2, H-2) configurations for 15 min each. The plasma nitrided surfaces were characterized by XRD, S EM and microhardness measurement to identify various nitride phases thus gr own, observe surface morphology of grains and determine improvement in hard ness, respectively. The depth of the nitride layer growth was found to be i n the order of 100-120 mum. Microhardness was observed to increase by three to four times that of the original samples taken. Fe2-3N(epsilon), Fe2N1-x , and Fe2N, etc., were the main phases that grew in the are plasma process. Experimental details and characterization of are plasma nitrided low carbo n steel are described and discussed in this paper. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.