Influence of Plasma Nitriding with a Nitrogen Rich Gas Composition on the Reciprocating Sliding Wear of a DIN 18MnCrSiMo6-4 Steel

In this study, the sliding wear of a DIN 18MnCrSiMo6-4 continuous cooling bainitic steel plasma nitrided with nitrogen rich gas composition was investigated. To evaluate influence processing time and temperature on mechanical microstructural characteristics layer, samples were at 400, 450, 500 550 °C for 3, 6 9 h. The produced layers characterized concerning microstructure, phase composition, microhardness surface roughness. tested by ball-on-flat reciprocating dry friction coefficient analysis. tests stopped after given damage criteria involving rapid growth coefficients wear. correlation different treatment parameters resulting case depths hardness distance microcracks formation or delamination layer evaluated statistically analysis variance (ANOVA). showed better performances in than other groups investigated, since these have thicker compound diffusion zone higher conditions general, beginning is slower because hardest region layer.