A Novel Approach of Plasma Nitrocarburizing Using a Solid Carbon Active Screen – a Proof of Concept
-
, , , , and
Abstract
The feasibility of a novel approach of plasma nitrocarburizing with active screen (AS) made of carbon-fiber reinforced carbon (CFC) has been demonstrated in a comparative study of two types of AS material, steel and CFC, under similar process conditions. Besides the excellent thermo-mechanical properties of the CFC material against the conventional steel, an uncontrollable sputter deposition of the steel screen material during the nitriding can be avoided by the use of the CFC material. Furthermore, a solid-carbon-source concept based on the generation of highly reactive precursor gases, in particular of the unsaturated hydrocarbons HCN and C2H2 directly in the process, avoiding external supply of gaseous hydrocarbons, has been realized in the plasma-enhanced thermochemical treatment. The high nitriding effect of the process atmosphere obtained with the CFC AS yielded a significant improvement of nitriding results for different treated steels.
Kurzfassung
Die Machbarkeit eines neuartigen Ansatzes zum Plasmanitrocarburieren mit dem Aktivgitter aus kohlenstofffaserverstärktem Kohlenstoff (carbon fiber carbon composite, CFC) wurde im Rahmen einer Vergleichsstudie unter identischen Versuchsbedingungen für ein Aktivgitter aus Stahl bzw. CFC geprüft. Neben den hervorragenden thermo-mechanischen Eigenschaften des CFC im Vergleich zum konventionellen Stahl wird beim CFC-Aktivgitter eine unkontrollierte Zerstäubung und Abscheidung des Gittermaterials auf den behandelten Proben vermieden. Darüber hinaus wurde für das plasmagestützte thermochemische Verfahren das Konzept einer Feststoff-Kohlenstoffquelle umgesetzt, welches auf der Erzeugung hochreaktiver Gase, insbesondere der ungesättigten Verbindungen HCN und C2H2, direkt während des Prozesses beruht und damit die Verwendung externer gasförmiger Kohlenstoff-Präkursoren nicht erforderlich macht. Infolge der hochreaktiven Nitrieratmosphäre, die mittels des CFC-Aktivgitters erzeugt wurde, konnten signifikante Verbesserungen des Nitrierergebnisses bei der Behandlung unterschiedlicher Stähle erreicht werden.
References
1. US Patent 5,989,363: Nitriding process and nitriding furnace therefore. United States patent, November 23rd, 1999Search in Google Scholar
2. Goerges, J.: TC plasma nitriding. 12 IFHTSE Melbourne 2000, Australia, p. 229 and Heat Treat Metals. 28 (2001) 2, pp. 33–37Search in Google Scholar
3. Spies, H.-J.; Burlacov, I.; Börner, K.; Biermann, H.: Active screen plasma nitriding and nitrocarburizing of steels: An overview. J. Int. Heat Treat. Surf. Eng.8 (2014) 3, pp. 94–106, 10.1179/1749514814Z.000000000104Search in Google Scholar
4. Burlacov, I.; Börner, K.; Spies, H.-J.; Biermann, H.: Progress in control of nitriding potential in ASPN process. J. Int. Heat Treat. Surf. Eng.8 (2014) 4, pp. 139–143, 10.1179/1749514814z.000000000108Search in Google Scholar
5. Ricard, A.: Spectroscopy of flowing discharges and post-discharges in reactive gases. Surf. Coat. Technol.59 (1993) 1–3, pp. 67–76, 10.1016/0257-8972(93)90056-tSearch in Google Scholar
6. Kölbel, J.: Die Nitridschichtbildung bei der Glimmentladung. Research Report No. 155 of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Westdeutscher Verlag, Cologne, 1965, 10.1007/978-3-663-07023-8Search in Google Scholar
7. Edenhofer, B.: Physikalische und metallkundliche Vorgänge beim Nitrieren im Plasma einer Glimmentladung. HTM J. Heat Treatm. Mat.29 (1974) 2, pp. 105–11210.1515/htm-1974-290207Search in Google Scholar
8. Li, C. X.; Bell, T.; Dong, H.: A study of active screen plasma nitriding. Surface Engineering.18 (2002) 3, pp.174–181, 10.1179/026708401225005250Search in Google Scholar
9. Börner, K.; Spies, H.-J.; Burlacov, I.; Biermann, H.: Kontrolliertes Plasmanitrieren von Stählen mit einem Aktivgitter. HTM J. Heat Treatm. Mat.68 (2013) 3, pp. 124–132, 10.3139/105.110186Search in Google Scholar
10. Nishimoto, A.; Fukube, T.; Tanaka, T.: Effect of Surface Deposits on Nitriding Layer Formation of Active Screen Plasma Nitriding. Mater. Trans.57 (2016) 10, pp. 1811–1815, 10.2320/matertrans.m2016209Search in Google Scholar
11. Schlüter, M.; Hopf, C.; Jacob, W.: Chemical sputtering of carbon by combined exposure to nitrogen ions and atomic hydrogen. New Journal of Physics.10 (2008) 5, pp. 053037–053054, 10.1088/1367-2630/10/5/053037Search in Google Scholar
12. Jacob, W.; Hopf, C.; Schlüter, M.: Chemical sputtering of carbon by nitrogen ions. Appl. Phys. Lett.86 (2005) 20, pp. 204103–204104, 10.1063/1.1931820Search in Google Scholar
13. Hopf, C.; Jacob, W.: Bombardment of graphite with hydrogen isotopes: A model for the energy dependence of the chemical sputtering yield. J. Nucl. Mater.342 (2005) 1–3), pp. 141–147, 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2005.04.003Search in Google Scholar
14. Hopf, C.; von Keudell, A.; Jacob, W.: Chemical sputtering of hydrocarbon films. J. Appl. Phys.94 (2003) 4, pp. 2373–2380, 10.1063/1.1594273Search in Google Scholar
15. Jacob, W.; Hopf, C.; Schlüter, M.: Chemical sputtering of carbon materials due to combined bombardment by ions and atomic hydrogen. Phys. Scr.T124 (2006), pp. 32–36, 10.1088/0031-8949/2006/t124/007Search in Google Scholar
16. Crespi, Â. E.; Maia da Costa, M. E. H.; Figueroa, C. A.; Dotto, M. E. R.; Kauling, A. P.; Soares, G. V.; Baumvol, I. J. R.; Giacomelli, C.: Carbon nitride film deposition by active screen plasma nitriding. Mater. Lett.65 (2011) 19–20), pp. 2985–2988, doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2011.06.048Search in Google Scholar
17. Hamann, S.; Burlacov, I.; Spies, H.-J.; Biermann, H.; Röpcke, J.: Spectroscopic investigations of plasma nitriding processes: A comparative study using steel and carbon as active screen materials. J. Appl. Phys.121 (2017) 15, pp. 153301, 10.1063/1.4980039Search in Google Scholar
18. Hamann, S.; Börner, K.; Burlacov, I.; Spies, H.-J.; Strämke, M.; Strämke, S.; Röpcke, J.: Plasma nitriding monitoring reactor: A model reactor for studying plasma nitriding processes using an active screen. Rev. Sci. Instrum.86 (2015) 12, pp. 123503, 10.1063/1.4936844Search in Google Scholar PubMed
19. Dong, Y.; Li, X.; Tian, L.; Bell, T.; Sammons, R. L.; Dong, H.: Towards long-lasting antibacterial stainless steel surfaces by combining double glow plasma silvering with active screen plasma nitriding. Acta Biomaterialia7 (2011) 1, pp. 447–457, 10.1016/j.actbio.2010.08.009Search in Google Scholar PubMed
20. Naeem, M.; Shafiq, M.; Zaka-ul-Islam, M.; Díaz-Guillén, J. C.; Lopez-Badillo, C. M.; Ullah, N.; Zakaullah, M.: Improved surface properties of AISI-304 by novel duplex cathodic cage plasma nitriding. Mater. Lett.189 (2017), pp. 213–216, 10.1016/j.matlet.2016.12.016Search in Google Scholar
21. Lin, K.; Li, X.; Tian, L.; Dong, H.: Active screen plasma surface co-alloying treatments of 316 stainless steel with nitrogen and silver for fuel cell bipolar plates. Surf. Coat. Technol.283 (2015), pp. 122–128, 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2015.10.038Search in Google Scholar
22. Lebrun, J. P.: Treatment method of a metallic substrate, metallic substrate thereby obtained and his applications. European patent EP 0 801 142 B1. 1996 April 12Search in Google Scholar
23. Sproge, L.; Slycke, J.: Control of the compound layer structure in gaseous Nitrocarburizing. J. Heat Treating.9 (1992), pp. 105–11210.1007/BF02833146Search in Google Scholar
24. Burlacov, I.; Hamann, S.; Spies, H.-J.; Röpcke, J.; Biermann, H.: In-line process control in the active screen plasma nitrocarburizing using a combined approach based on infrared laser absorption spectroscopy and bias power management. HTM J. Heat Treatm.71 (2016) 4, pp. 141–147, 10.3139/105.110292Search in Google Scholar
25. Hamann, S.; Börner, K.; Burlacov, I.; Hübner, M.; Spies, H.-J.; Röpcke, J.: Spectroscopic studies of conventional and active screen N2-H2 plasma nitriding processes with admixtures of CH4 or CO2. Plasma Sources Sci. Technol.22 (2013) 5, pp. 055022–055034, 10.1088/0963-0252/22/5/055022Search in Google Scholar
26. Somers, M.; Christiansen, T. L.: Gaseous processes for low temperature surface hardening of stainless steel. In: Thermochemical Surface Engineering of Steels. Mittemeijer, E. J. and Somers, M. A. J. (Eds.), Elsevier, 2015, pp. 581–614, 10.1533/9780857096524.4.581Search in Google Scholar
27. Christiansen, T. L.; Somers, M. A. J.: HTPro: Low-temperature Surface Hardening of Stainless Steel. Advanced Materials & Processes (November – December, 2013), pp. 52–53Search in Google Scholar
© 2017, Carl Hanser Verlag, München
Articles in the same Issue
- Fachbeiträge/Technical Contributions
- AWT-Seminare 2018
- HTM-Praxis
- HTM-Praxis
- Kurzfassungen/Abstracts
- Kurzfassungen
- Inhalt/Contents
- Inhalt
- Fachbeiträge/Technical Contributions
- CarboBain: Case Hardening by Carbo-Austempering–a short Introduction to Transformation Kinetics, Microstructure and Residual Stresses*
- A Novel Approach of Plasma Nitrocarburizing Using a Solid Carbon Active Screen – a Proof of Concept
- Fixturhärten ohne Abschrecköl
- Virtual Optimization of Process and Material Properties for ADI*
- Schleifbarkeit mehrphasiger, einsatzgehärteter Zahnräder mit erhöhtem Restaustenitgehalt
- Die Wirkmechanismen mikrobiell basierter Kühlschmierstoffe
- Optimization of Current, Voltage and Powder Feed Rate on Mechanical Properties of Plasma Transferred Arc Welded SS 316 Joints
Articles in the same Issue
- Fachbeiträge/Technical Contributions
- AWT-Seminare 2018
- HTM-Praxis
- HTM-Praxis
- Kurzfassungen/Abstracts
- Kurzfassungen
- Inhalt/Contents
- Inhalt
- Fachbeiträge/Technical Contributions
- CarboBain: Case Hardening by Carbo-Austempering–a short Introduction to Transformation Kinetics, Microstructure and Residual Stresses*
- A Novel Approach of Plasma Nitrocarburizing Using a Solid Carbon Active Screen – a Proof of Concept
- Fixturhärten ohne Abschrecköl
- Virtual Optimization of Process and Material Properties for ADI*
- Schleifbarkeit mehrphasiger, einsatzgehärteter Zahnräder mit erhöhtem Restaustenitgehalt
- Die Wirkmechanismen mikrobiell basierter Kühlschmierstoffe
- Optimization of Current, Voltage and Powder Feed Rate on Mechanical Properties of Plasma Transferred Arc Welded SS 316 Joints