Nitriding of steels

The influence of nitriding temperature (900 to 1000°C) on the microstructure of low carbon steel and 304 stainless steel was studied. Nitriding was done in steps of 25°C with diffusion times between 3 and 9 hours. Metallographic technique was used to study the process kinetics. The case depth increases with temperature following an exponential relationship (parabolic). A quantitative relationship between diffusion layer thickening and nitriding temperature was determined.