Dry sliding wear behavior of AISI310 stainless steel with low temperature salt bath nitriding and gas nitriding processes

Abstract

AISI 310 is an austenitic stainless steel that accomplished in high thermal applications like turbines, boiler parts etc. In this study AISI310 was treated with salt bath nit--riding for 60min, 120min and 150min and gas nitriding for 6hrs, 12hrs and 18hrs at the temperature of 5700c respectively. Comparison study of nitrided specimens were performed under various metallographic tests like scanning electron microscope, X-ray Diffraction, pin on disc apparatus. Experimental results shown that when salt bath nitrided sample at 150min showed a white layer called “S-phase” layer which was detected. In gas nitriding also “S-phase” layer, an expanded austenite was observed, after 18 hrs, CrN phase was discovered after the decomposition of s-phase layer gas nitrided sample of 18hrs which showed the best corrosion resistance. Salt bath specimen 150 min showed minimum wear loss and gas nitrided sample of 18hrs showed more hardness, minimum wear and improved corrosion resistance compared to untreated sample.