Thermal stability of diffusion layers obtained by low-temperature ion-nitriding of AISI 304 type austenitic stainless steels

Abstract

Samples of AISI 304 steel with layers nitrided at low temperature (< 450°C) have been heated isothermally under neutral atmosphere for times ranging from 4 to 3,000 h. The stability of the layers varies depending on holding temperature. At temperatures greater than 450°C, the initial FCC disordered metastable solid solution, supersaturated in nitrogen (), decomposes in a relatively short time (4 h). At lower temperatures, however, no change in supersaturation and no decomposition occur, even for holding times exceeding 3,000 h. Nevertheless, an increase in layer thickness is noted and the hardness within the layers remains high (800 HV₁₀).