EFFECT OF NITRIDED LAYER ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF 304 STAINLESS STEEL

Abstract

In this article, the effect of nitriding layers on microstructures and properties of 304 stainless steel is presented. By the process of gas nitriding, a nitriding layer was created on the surface of this steel. After gas nitriding, the hardness value on the surface was 586HV and the abrasion resistance was increased by 4 times compared to the pre- gas nitriding state. However, the corrosion rate was reduced by about 9 times with 0.1037 mm/year, but its value was still in range of permitted limit of the stainless steel (less than 1mm/year). The initial results can be applied to improve the abrasion resistance of the stainless steel components.