Fabrication of Microalloy Nitrided Layer on Low Carbon Steel by Nitriding Combined with Surface Nano-Alloying Pretreatment

Surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) is an effective method to accelerate the nitriding process of metallic materials. In this work, a novel technique named surface nano-alloying (SNA) was developed on the basis of surface mechanical attrition treatment, which was employed as a pretreatment for the nitriding of low carbon steel materials. The microstructure and surface properties of treated samples were investigated by SEM, XRD, TEM and the Vickers hardness test. Experimental results showed that a surface alloying layer (Cr element) of about 10–20 μm in thickness was formed on the low carbon steel sample after the surface nano-alloying treatment. After nitriding for the SNA sample, a complex compound layer composed of Fe2–3N, FeCr and Cr2N phases was fabricated. Moreover, the thickness of this compound layer was about 50 μm. Meanwhile, both the surface hardness and wear resistance of the SNA nitrided sample are better that those of the SMAT nitrided sample. This work offers a new approach for improving the nitriding process of steel materials.