Roman Olik

Design, Control and in Situ Visualization of Gas Nitriding Processes

The article presents a complex system of design, in situ visualization and control of the commonly used surface treatment process: the gas nitriding process. In the computer design conception, analytical mathematical models and artificial intelligence methods were used. As a result, possibilities were obtained of the poly-optimization and poly-parametric simulations of the course of the process combined with a visualization of the value changes of the process parameters in the function of time, as well as possibilities to predict the properties of nitrided layers. For in situ visualization of the growth of the nitrided layer, computer procedures were developed which make use of the results of the correlations of direct and differential voltage and time runs of the process result sensor (magnetic sensor), with the proper layer growth stage. Computer procedures make it possible to combine, in the duration of the process, the registered voltage and time runs with the models of the process.

Wear and Corrosion Behavior of CrCN/CrN Coatings Deposited by Cathodic arc Evaporation on Nitrided 42CrMo4 Steel Substrates

In the paper, the results of wear and corrosion tests of the CrCN/CrN multilayer coatings, formed by cathodic arc evaporation on 42CrMo4 (AISI 4140) steel substrates are presented. The substrates were subjected to thermo-chemical treatment–nitriding with various nitriding potential. The results of nitriding were determined by XRD and the hardness profile in the samples cross-section. The morphology of thin coatings was examined with SEM. A Vickers FV-700 and Fisherscope HM2000 hardness testers enabled to investigate hardness of steel substrates and CrCN/CrN coatings respectively. A pin-on-disc wear tests were used to determine the hardness and tribological parameters of the coatings: the coefficient of the friction and wear rate. The scratch test and Rockwell test were applied to assess the adhesion of the coatings to the substrates. The corrosion properties of coating–steel substrate systems were investigated using potentiodynamic polarisation tests. Corrosion potential, corrosion current density and polarization resistance were determined. It was found that that the nitriding of steel substrates improves properties of the coating–substrate system. The nitriding 42CrMo4 steel substrate with low nitriding potential enable to obtain substrates without surface “white layer” what favours good adhesion of the coating to the substrate. The CrCN/CrN multilayer coating–steel substrate systems show good mechanical and tribological properties and corrosion resistance.

Development of Nitrided Layer during Nitriding of Steel

The present work is devoted to research the influence of micro-structural evolution of the compound zone (iron (carbo)nitrides zone) upon development of hardness profiles in diffusion zone. A different phase structure of iron (carbo)nitrides zone on steel as compared to iron, further changing with the process, may result in upsetting the quasi-equilibrium of nitrogen concentration in the iron (carbo)nitrides zone/diffusion zone interface and may as a result have impact on the kinetics of this layer’s growth. Aimed at solving this problem there was a research carried out to evaluate influence of (carbo)nitrides zone, with intentionally created diametrically different phase composition, on hardness profiles in the diffusion zone. Based on the research conducted, it was shown that the evolution of phase structure of the compound zone contributes significantly, regardless of nitrogen potential and temperature, to the formation of the diffusion zone and in particular to its effective thickness. It makes this complex picture of nitrided case development on steel even more intricated.