R. Sola

Effects of Surface Morphology on the Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Post-Treated Nitrided and Nitrocarburized 42CrMo4 Steel

The surface of alloyed carbon steel was subjected to thermochemical modification by nitrocarburizing and nitriding with or without postoxidation in order to improve its mechanical properties, corrosion, and wear resistance. Treated samples were characterized by testing their basic properties (compound layer thickness, nitriding, nitrocarburizing depth, and surface hardness) according to standards. Detailed estimation of the modified metal surface was performed by additional testing: X-ray diffraction, microstructure, surface roughness and topography, and wear and corrosion resistance. The surface layer obtained after nitrocarburizing treatment consists mainly of ε-Fe2-3(N,C) and γ’-Fe4(N,C); similarly, the nitrided surface is formed by ε-Fe2-3N and γ’-Fe4N iron nitrides. The surface layer after postoxidation contains additionally Fe3O4. The results obtained show that nitrocarburization, nitridation, and postoxidation result in better mechanical, wear, and corrosion resistance of 42CrMo4 steel, and postoxidized sample properties are influenced by surface morphology.

Laser Quenching of Ionic Nitrided Steel: Effect of Process Parameters on Microstructure and Optimization

The surface properties of 40CrMnMo7 steel have been increased by ionic nitriding thermo chemical treatment followed by laser quenching. Nitriding treatment increases the wear resistance and decreases the wear coefficient, guaranteeing an uniform, though shallow, hardening depth. Combining nitriding with laser quenching has been shown to increase of the hardening depth, while retaining the advantages obtained by the first treatment. In this work the effect of laser quenching parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of 40CrMnMo7 steel have been investigated and predictive models developed suitable for further optimization of the process. DoE has been exploited to reduce the number of experiments and for evaluating by statistic methods the optimized process parameters.

Electroless Ni coatings for the improvement of wear resistance of bearings for lightweight rotary gear pumps

The possibility of improving the performances of current aluminium alloys in the bearings region of lightweight external gear pumps has been investigated. Two different electroless Ni-based coatings, one containing high percentages of P (10-14%) and the other modified with the addition of 25 wt% PTFE micrometric spheres, deposited on 2011 Al alloy, were characterised by scratch test and ball-on-disc tests. Comparison with an antifriction Sn-containing Al-alloy was performed. The PTFE-containing coating presents the lowest wear rate and friction against steel. However, the presence of PTFE spheres and the hardness mismatch with the substrate tends to favour tensile cracking of the coating.

Corrosion resistance improvement of nitrocarburised and post-oxidised steels by oil impregnation

Abstract Nitrocarburising is a well known process developed to improve superficial hardness and wear resistance of steels; a subsequent post-oxidation step is often useful to enhance the corrosion resistance. In this work, an additional step was evaluated: nitrocarburised and post-oxidised parts were impregnated in lubricant oil in order to improve their wear and corrosion resistance. The effectiveness of this new treatment, in terms of corrosion resistance, was assessed for two steels, 20MnCr5 and 42CrMo4, using two different oils. The results obtained from corrosion tests show that the impregnation treatment increases the corrosion resistance, in both acidic and chlorurated media.

Effect of quenching method on the wear and corrosion resistance of stainless steel AISI 420 (TYPE 30Kh13)

The effect of different kinds of quenching, i.e., laser, vacuum, and induction ones, on the mechanical properties and wear and corrosion resistances of stainless steel AISI 420 is studied. It is shown that all the three kinds of heat treatment raise considerably the wear resistance of the steel due to growth in the hardness. Laser and vacuum quenching also increases the corrosion resistance. After induction quenching the resistance to corrosion is lower than in untreated steel.

A Novel Duplex Treatment of C20 Steel Combining Low-Pressure Carburizing and Laser Quenching

This research paper focuses on a novel duplex treatment combining low-pressure carburizing and laser quenching to reach high surface hardness and hardening depth, improving wear resistance and mechanical properties. Results of microstructural analysis, micro- and nanohardness, wear and x-ray diffraction tests, carried out on laser-treated, carburized and duplex-treated C20 low-alloy steel, demonstrate that the novel duplex treatment developed greatly enhances wear resistance of the material.

Laser hardening of steel sintered parts

The possibility of applying rapid and localized laser hardening to near-net shape parts, like the ones deriving from powder metallurgy (P/M) is investigated, demonstrating that even low alloyed steels (Fe + 2% Cu + 0,7% C) can be successfully heat treated with minimal or no dimensional variations. Laser hardening conditions have been selected on the basis of the results of the previous research, carried out by means of an Nd-YAG high power system [1]. To avoid some carbon loss, observed on previous activities, the samples have been protected by neutral atmosphere. The microstructural features of the laser hardened steels have been analyzed by optical microscopy, whereas the surface micro-geometry has been characterized by scanning electron microscope. Hardened depth (HD), hardened width (HW) and hardened area (HA) have been measured as well. As expected, the micro-hardness profiles present a sharp drop at low distance from the hardened surface. The typical splitting between hardened zone and heat-affected zone (HAZ), well known from laser hardened fully dense steels, has been observed also on low-alloy sintered steels. The use of a protective atmosphere has been helpful to control surface decarburization and to prevent oxidation. The research confirm that Laser transformation Hardening (LTH) is a suitable hardening process of P/M components, through the action of a scanning laser beam. The short heating time and the modest volume fraction structurally modified can contribute to avoid part distortion, in comparison with other hardening methods.