Surface modification of a ferritic ductile iron through plasma nitriding

Abstract

This text describes the plasma nitriding of a ductile iron, to increase the surface hardness and improve its wear behavior. A ferritic ductile iron was used and processed with gases (N2 + H2) for 5 hours in a treatment chamber built at the UNAM Physics Institute. The treated samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, microhardness and X-ray diffraction. The presence of Fe-N compounds was corroborated on the surface of the material. Modifications in surface morphology and a 30% increase in microhardness were also obtained.

Keywords

• Ductile iron
• Plasma (ion) nitriding
• microhardness
• scanning electron microscopy
• atomic force microscopy