Plasma nitriding without formation of compound layer for 38CrMoAl hydraulic plunger. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Yao; Song, Lei; Zhang, Chenkai; Ye, Xuemei; Song, Renguo; Wang, Zhixiu; Zhao, Xiaobing; Hu, Jing
• Is Part Of: Vacuum. Volume 143(2017)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 101
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Plasma nitriding -- 38CrMoAl steel -- Microstructure -- Brittleness; Vacuum -- Periodicals; 621.55
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2017.05.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-207X

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, low temperature plasma nitriding (LPN) was primarily used in 38CrMoAl hydraulic plunger to overcome the peeling problem of the compound layer in real application. The cross-sectional microstructures of the treated samples were observed by optical metallography, phase constituents were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), the microhardness profile and brittleness of surface were measured by microhardness tester. The results showed that no compound layer was formed while plasma nitriding at 450 °Cfor 6 h, and XRD also confirmed that there existed no γ′-Fe4 N. Meanwhile, the brittleness was decreased at lower temperature plasma nitriding comparing with normal plasma nitriding (NPN), due to no brittle compound layer formed on the outmost layer. Highlights: The low temperature plasma nitriding can enhance the production efficiency of the 38CrMoAl hydraulic plunger.