Nitriding &

Nitrocarburising

Mikael Fllstrm
Bodycote AGI NEE

October 2014
 Nitriding & Nitrocarburising
Basic theory, hardening mechanisms, compound
layer, diffusion layer etc.

Nitrocarburising Steels for nitriding/nitrocarburising

Nitriding &

Wear and Fatigue properties

Nitriding vs carburizing

Corrosion resistance
basics, oxidation, CORR-I-DUR

Dimensions and surface changes

Case studies
Some basic examples.
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

The nitriding techniques belongs to a group normally referred to as

thermo chemical diffusion processes. Nitriding implies that nitrogen is
conveyed to a surface of steel at a raised temperature usually between 400-
600 C and diffused into the matrix

Nitriding gives 2NH3 N2 + 3H2

Improved tribological properties NH3 N2
Improved wear resistance. N H2
Improved strength
Improved corrosion resistance Fe

Improved fatigue strength

Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

Hardening mechanisms

1. Solution-hardening: Solid solution between a alloying element

and a base material. ex. Quench(Martensitic) hardening

2. Precipitation-hardening: Precipitation of an intermediate phase

in a matrix material ex. Cu in Al, Nitriding

3. Dispersions-hardening: In-corporation of hard particles in a

matrix material. Metal matrix composites

4. Grain boundary-hardening: Smaller grains gives higher strength

ex. Normalising, fine grain treatment

5. Deformation-hardening: Deformation forms tensions that

increases the hardness. Ex. Cold-rolling of stainless steel
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

500C

20C
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

500C

Solution hardening

20C
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

1100

900
Hrdhet (HV)

700

500
0.4%C steel
300
Pure iron
100
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Djup (mm)
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

A luminium
Krom
Va nadin
e tc
+
Nitrogen
=
Nitrides

Precipitation hardening
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

1100
5%Cr Hot-Work steel
Hardness (HV) 900 Nitralloy Cr-Mo-Al

1% Cr-Mo Steel
700

500
0.4%C steel
300
Pure iron
100
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Depth (mm)
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

> 6% N

Phase
transformation

face centred cubic

hexagonal close packed

e-nitrid, Fe2-3N g-nitrid, Fe4N

Nitriding & Nitrocarburising
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising
Steels for nitriding/nitrocarburising

Alloying elements
- Higher hardness
Al, Cr, V, etc - Thinner Compound layer
- Thinner Diffusion layer

- Lower hardness
- Thicker Compound layer
- Thicker diffusion layer
Steels for nitriding/nitrocarburising
Steels for nitriding/nitrocarburising

Material AISI/SAE DIN Suface Niride Compound

type hardness hardness layer
HV 2 depth, mm Thickness m
Structural 1020 1.0037 150-350 0,3-0,8 4-10
Carbon 1045 1.0503 350-500 0,3-0,8 4-15
Case 5115 1.7131 550-700 0,3-0,7 6-10
hardened
Heat 4140 1.7225 550-650 0,2-0,6 4-8
treatable
Nitriding A355 1.8550 900-1100 0,2-0,5 2-10
Hot work H13 1.2344 900-1200 0,1-0,3 2-10
Cold work D2 1.2379 900-1250 0,1-0,2 -
High speed M2 1.3343 1000-1250 0,005-0,1 -
Stainless 316 1.4571 950-1250 0,05-0,1 -
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

p NH3
an = K
p H23/2

Nitriding
- 500-540C
- Ammonia
Salt
- Nitrogen NH3 " N + 3/2 H2
Plasma
- 10-100 h
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

Driving Screw for pump

- SS 2142 (OVAKO 2142)

- min 500HV
- 30h / 510C
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

Plasmanitriding of forging tools

- SS 2242(Orvar)
- 480C 30h
- Fz ca 5mm
- g nitrid (Fe4N)
- Ythrdhet >1100 HV
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

Nitrocarburising
NH3 " N + 3/2 H2 Slow
2 CO D C + CO2 Slow
CO + H2 D C + H2O Fast
Salt
HCN D H2 + C + N Fast ?
Plasma
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

N
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

Hydraulic shafts
Change to an environmentally
friendly process
Maintained or improved running-in
properties
Improved cleanliness
Less distortions
Less variations of surface
hardness and thickness of the
compound layer
Lower total cost
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

Roller bearing cages

Minimized and reproducable
dimension changes
Controlled porosity in the
compound layer
More accurate values of
surface hardness
diffusion depth
layer thickness
Increased wear resistance
Controlled appearance
Choiceable colours
Wear and Fatigue properties
Wear and Fatigue properties

Fatigue
Nitrering 1.2344
MPa

16MnCr5
Nitrering
Stthrdning 0,7mm
2244, 42Cr4
Wear and Fatigue properties

Blanking tool - ToolSteel

Spnnings- och hrdhetsprofil Sleipner-1

Spnning Hrdhet

1200 1200
1000

Spnning (MPa)
800 1000

Hrd het (HV)

600
400 800
200
0 600
-200
-400 400
-600
-800 200
-1000
-1200 0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7
Avstnd frn ytan (mm)

From 1.000 to >50.000 parts

Corrosion resistance

Corrosion

90 miljarder SEK/r
Corrosion resistance
Corrosion resistance

Corrosion protection
Protective layers
oil, grease
Paint, polymers, enamel (glass)
Metallic layers (Ni, Sn, Cr)
Non metallic layers (nitrides)

Oxides
metal + oxygen metal-oxide
Oxide layers that completely covers the surface
gives protection
Cathode protection
The metal that needs protection is made cathode
Corrosion resistance

Function surface

Wear

Friction

Mechanical properties
(Strength, Hardness, fatigue etc) Sealing's
Corrosion resistance

Corrosion protection
Protective layers
oil, grease
Paint, polymers, enamel (glass)
Metallic layers (Ni, Sn, Cr)
Non metallic layers (nitrides)

Oxides
metal + oxygen metal-oxide
Oxide layers that completely covers the surface
gives protection
Cathode protection
The metal that needs protection is made cathode
Corrosion resistance

Cracks in Cr-Layer

Mechanical properties
(Strength, Hardness, fatigue etc)
Corrosion resistance

Mechanical Properties

1100
5%Cr Hot-Work steel Case depth
900 Nitralloy Cr-Mo-Al
Hardness (HV)

1% Cr-Mo Steel
700
- Strength
500 - Fatigue
0.4%C steel
300
Pure iron
100
0 0.2 0.4
0.6 0.8
Depth (mm)
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

Production cost

Machining Induction Grinding Cr-Plating Grinding

Machining Grinding Corr-i-dur

Corrosion resistance

Protecting oxide layers

- Cr 2 O3 on chromium
- Cr 2 O3 on steel > 13% chromium
- Al 2 O3 on Aluminium
- Fe 3 O 4 on nitride layers
Corrosion resistance

Pilling-Bedworth

V Metal-oxide
R =
V Metal

R < 1 Tensions, porous/cracks non protecting oxide

R > 1 Protective oxide
R > 2 Compressive stress
 Corrosion resistance

System R (PB)

Fe3O4 / a - Fe 2,09

Fe3O4 / g-Fe 4N 1,80

Fe3O4 / e-Fe2 N1-x (7,3 Gew.-% N) 1,79

Fe3O4 / e-Fe2 N1-x (11,0 Gew.-% N) 1,69

g-Al2 O3 / Al 1,41

slide number 40
Corrosion resistance

Controlled Nitride layer

+
Post oxidation

Mechanical properties
Function surface
Corrosion resistance

CORR-I-DUR
Corrosion resistance

Ball joint (ZF)

Description
Partname: Ball Pins diameter 27 mm to diameter 30 mm
different OEMs
Material: 41Cr4 QT, HeatTreatable Steel
Treatment: Corr-I-Dur + Polishing

Requirements
240 h salt Neutral Spray Test
Compound Layer 15-26 m / 10-20 m
Special Roughness Requirements
CORR-I-DUR
Dimensions and surface changes
Dimensions and surface changes
 Dimensions and surface changes

Untreated Surface

slide number 46
 Dimensions and surface changes

CORR- I-DUR P
Surface after CORR-

slide number 47
 Dimensions and surface changes

slide number 48
 Dimensions and surface changes

Surface after rubbing up

slide number 49
 Dimensions and surface changes

slide number 50
Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

The nitriding techniques belongs to a group normally referred to as

thermo chemical diffusion processes. Nitriding implies that nitrogen is
conveyed to a surface of steel at a raised temperature usually between 400-
600 C and diffused into the matrix

Nitriding gives 2NH3 N2 + 3H2

Improved tribological properties NH3 N2
Improved wear resistance. N H2
Improved strength
Improved corrosion resistance Fe

Improved fatigue strength

Nitriding & Nitrocarburising

Thank you !