Article: Oxy-Nitriding AISI 304 Stainless Steel by Plasma Electrolytic Surface Saturation to Increase Wear Resistance

AISI 304 SS has good corrosion resistance in a variety of environments but does not have to wear. Aggressive marine require materials that can withstand both the biocorrosion and wear associated with impact waves, ocean currents suspended particles. Oxy-nitriding stainless steels be used increase their hardness resistance. The conventional oxy-nitriding process is lengthy, temperature involved affect material. To mitigate these problems, it was decided study an plasma electrolytic conditions, using aqueous solutions 20, 30 40 wt% urea. results showed all concentrations evaluated gave lower levels than untreated steel. However, considering amount urea environmental emissions from waste generated, concentration 20% by weight electrolyte considered sufficient up three times XRD, XPS microscopy analyses that, main, outermost layer steel surface treated morphology small craters chromium iron oxy-nitrides. A nitrogen diffusion also seen below oxy-nitrided layer.