MICROSTRUCTURE, MECHANICAL AND TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF AISI 316L STAINLESS STEEL DURING SALT BATH NITRIDING

The aim of the current work was to analyse impact salt bath nitriding on behavior tribological characteristics and surface microstructures AISI 316L stainless steels. Nitriding carried out at 580°C for 10 h. tribological, structural before after compared. microstructures, characteristics, as well its hardness, were investigated using optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), profilometer, pin-on-disk wear tester microhardness tester. In experimental results showed that a great hardness could be achievable through technique because formation so-called expanded Austenite (S-phase), nitrogen diffusion region. 316 steel process reached 1100 HV0.025 which six times untreated sample hardness. S-phase is additionally expected improvement resistance decrease friction coefficient.