Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Salt Bath Nitrocarburised Thin Section Steels

Abstract

Salt bath nitrocarburising is widely employed for improving the tribological and corrosion properties of ferrous engineering components. The present paper describes the effect of nitrocarburising on the mechanical properties of thin section carbon and stainless steels. The improvements in mechanical properties can be achieved under controlled processing conditions in the non-alloyed thin section carbon steels owing to the development of the optimum level of compound layer and diffusion zone. However, the tensile properties of stainless steels are not significantly influenced by nitrocarburising. The developed compound layers are integral to the matrix even after the tensile testing.