Microstructure, Mechanical and Tribological Behaviour of Aisi 316l Stainless Steel During Salt Bath Nitriding

Abstract

The aim of the current work was to analyse the impact of salt bath nitriding on the behavior of the tribological characteristics and surface microstructures of AISI 316L stainless steels. Nitriding was carried out at 580°C for 10 h. The tribological, structural behavior of the AISI 316L before and after salt bath nitriding was compared. The surface microstructures, tribological characteristics, as well as its surface hardness, were investigated using optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), surface profilometer, pin-on-disk wear tester and microhardness tester. In the current work the experimental results showed that a great surface hardness could be achievable through salt bath nitriding technique because of the formation of the so-called expanded Austenite (S-phase), the nitrogen diffusion region. The surface hardness of AISI 316 stainless steel after nitriding process reached 1100 HV0.025 which was six times the untreated sample hardness. The S-phase is additionally expected to the improvement of wear resistance and decrease the friction coefficient.

An experimental investigation of Quench Polish Quench (QPQ) coating on AISI 4150 steel

“…Very recently, the tribological properties of steel have been improved by the salt-nitrating treatment process. It was reported that optimum wear resistance and the frictional coefficient can be obtained by increasing the temperature of the salt solution [11]. The stainless steel grade-316 medical plates are surface coated using the QPQ method to improve hardness and reduce wear loss using the Taguchi method [12].…”

Optimization of Quench Polish Quench (QPQ) Coating Process Using Taguchi Method

“…Very recently, the tribological properties of the steel is improved by the salt nitrating bath treatment process. It was reported that wear resistance and frictional coefficient have been reached to maximum level by increasing the temperature of the salt solution [11]. As per the above-mentioned literature, the process parameters of the QPQ method have not been performed to optimize the hardness and layer thickness.…”