The Effect of Nitriding/DLC Coating on the High Cycle Fatigue Properties of Fe-3.0Ni-0.7Cr-1.4Mn-X Steel

Abstract

Various surface treatments and thin film coating processes on the surface of injection die steel have been developed to extend the life. Most of previous studies were mainly focused on investigating the wear and static bonding behavior of thin films. In this study complex surface treatments of DLC coating combined with ion nitriding were applied to increase fatigue life and wear resistance. Ion nitriding, DLC coating, and DLC coating following nitriding on the surface of Fe-3.0Ni-0.7Cr-1.4Mn-X steel were investigated to uncover the beneficial effect which is applicable to injection die. The effect of various surface treatments and coating conditions on high cycle fatigue resistance was studied. Surface morphology change during fatigue tests were observed with AFM. Fatigue life of the die steel increased by 10 to 1,000 times at the various level of stress amplitudes in the condition of DLC coating following the ion nitriding for 3 hrs comparing with the only DLC coated condition.