Influence of the parameters of hydrogen nitrogen nitrogen in a glow discharge on tribological and physico-chemical properties of steel 40X

Abstract

One of the modern and effective methods of hardening metals is nitriding in a glow discharge in ammonia or in an anhydrous medium (nitrogen + argon) - BATR. This paper presents the results of experimental studies comparing the results of tribological and physicochemical properties of hardened surfaces obtained by nitriding with autonomous and interconnected BATR modes. The complex of traditionally fixed values of operating parameters (temperature, composition of the gas mixture, pressure and saturation time) without taking into account energy characteristics (voltage, current density and specific discharge power) significantly reduces the technological capabilities of BATR to achieve the necessary physicochemical properties of metal surfaces specified by conditions exploitation. Taking into account the energy characteristics of BATR, a significant reduction in the energy consumption of the nitriding process is achieved. The energy levels of the main subprocesses are significantly different: the formation of nitrides occurs at low energies, surface sputtering occurs at high voltage values, and nitrogen diffusion occurs at increased current density values. In cases where the energy of the flow is insufficient, either a glow discharge may not occur at all, or with a lack of voltage, the nitride ball on the surface is not sprayed and it acts as a barrier that prevents the diffusion process into the inner layers of the metal, which leads to low physicochemical and, correspondingly, tribological indicators of nitrided balls. The quantitative ratio between them and the required operational properties of the metal, respectively, can be achieved only through an independent combination of the energy and operating characteristics of BATR