Samples of stainless steel ISO 5832-1 were nitrided in a gas mixture of 90% N2 + 10% H2 at a temperature of 870ºC. The treatment times were 1, 3 and 5 hours. Treated samples were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Vickers microhardness, as well as analyze of the mass variation. The results indicated the diffusion growth of the compound layer. The increased time promoted a greater uptake of nitrogen in the material, however, due to higher bulk diffusion and the consequent formation of thicker layers, phases poor in this element were identified. There was also a decrease in hardness of the nitrided layer with increasing treatment time. The gain in mass, as well as growth of the nitrided layer, increased with treatment time. For the subsequent SHTPN treatment the nitriding time of 3 h was the most suitable, mainly due to grain size, associated with the obtained nitrogen incorporation.
Plasma nitriding; stainless steel; ISO 5832-1; SHTPN
