Gas Nitriding Nitreg® - Nitrex
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- Gas Nitriding Nitreg® -

Gas Nitriding Nitreg®

NITREG® is a modern heat-treating process, capable of meeting the metallurgical requirements of all nitriding specifications that may have been originally written for salt bath, plasma or traditional gas nitriding. The ability to control the concentration of nitrogen in the surface allows the user to control the growth of the compound layer virtually independently from developing a desirable diffusion zone. This approach facilitates not only meeting any specification requirements, but it also makes it possible to improve on them by allowing tighter tolerances to be satisfied, particularly regarding the thickness and properties of the compound layer.

NITREG® Advantage

  • Controls the thickness of the compound (white) layer and its properties
  • Eliminates closed nitride networks within the diffusion zone
  • Excellent control of the case depth
  • Uniformly hardened even small bores, tight grooves and sharp edges
  • Excellent control of the surface hardness
  • No part distortion
  • Very high level of repeatability of the process
  • Green technology, no waste pollution

 

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Nitriding is a process of diffusing nitrogen atoms into the metal surface. Nitrogen is plentiful on Earth, however, in nature it exists as a two-atom molecule, chemically inert and too large to penetrate the surface. Hence nitriding technologies focus on the source of nascent (atomic) nitrogen.

The main objective of nitriding is to increase the hardness of the component’s surface by enriching it with nitrogen. Regardless of the method, nitriding is a process of diffusing nitrogen into the metal and such diffusion, once individual atoms of nitrogen have penetrated the surface, continues as long as the temperature is high enough, and there is a fresh supply of nascent nitrogen on the surface. In other words, the diffusion is basically the same in all nitriding, while the difference lies in the supply of nitrogen. The latter has a fundamental influence on the resultant properties of the surface.

Generally speaking all ferrous alloys, including stainless steels, cast irons, and even titanium alloys, are capable of being nitrided. However, the various alloys have different characteristics with regard to surface conditions, the natural speed of diffusion and propensity to form nitrides. It is important to understand that even a properly run nitriding process will produce significantly different results on dissimilar materials. Consequently, some users may have insurmountable difficulties, particularly if their methodology is primitive and/or their knowledge and experience inadequate.

NITRIDING STEELS
GRADE AISI GRADE UNI MAIN ALLOY COMPONENTS CORE HARDNESS HV/HRC SURFACE HARDNESS HV1
N135M 38CrAlMoA C=0.38 Cr=1.7 Mo=0.3 Al=1 350/36 1190-1290
Nitralloy N C=0.35 Cr=115 Ni=3.5 Mo=0.25 350/36 1100-1200
34CrAlNi7 C=0.42 Cr=3 Mo=1.2 V=0.20 350/36 1190-1290
42CrMoV12 42CrMoV12 C=0.42 Cr=3 Mo=1.2 V=0.20 490 / 48 1050-1150
31CrMo12 C=0.32 Cr=3 Mo=0.4 320 / 32 870-920
30CrMoV9 320 / 32C=0.30 Cr=2.5 Mo=0.2 V=0.15 320 / 32 900-930
25CrMo20 C=0.25 Cr=6 Mo=0.20 280 / 27 1000-1100
OTHER HARDENABLE ALLOY STEELS
GRADE AISI GRADE UNI MAIN ALLOY COMPONENTS CORE HARDNESS HV/HRC SURFACE HARDNESS HV1
4130 30CrMo4 C=0.30 Cr=1 Mo=0.2 300 / 30 640 – 680
4140 42CrMo4 C=0.40 Cr=1 Mn=0.9 Mo=0.2 300 / 30 650 – 700
4340 C=0.40 Cr=0.8 Ni=1.8 Mo=0.25 310 / 31 650 – 700
30NiCrMo12 C=0.30 Cr=0.8 Ni=2.8 Mo=0.12 310 / 31 600 – 650
35NiCrMo15 C=0.35 Cr=1.7 Ni=3.8 Mo=0.15 330 / 33 800 – 850
CARBON STEELS
GRADE AISI GRADE UNI MAIN ALLOY COMPONENTS CORE HARDNESS HV/HRC SURFACE HARDNESS HV1
1010 C10 C=0.10 Mn=0.50 160 320 – 380
1020 C20 C=0.20 Mn=0.50 180 320 – 380
1030 C30 C=0.30 Mn=0.7 180 380 – 420
1045 C45 C=0.45 Mn=0.7 200 420 – 470
1060 C60 C=0.60 Mn=0.7 250 / 22 525
CARBURIZING ALLOY STEELS
GRADE AISI GRADE UNI MAIN ALLOY COMPONENTS CORE HARDNESS HV/HRC SURFACE HARDNESS HV1
5115 16MnCr5 C=015 Cr=0.8 Mn=0.9 180 660 – 720
20 MnCr5 C=0.20 Cr=1.15 Mn=1.3 240 / 21 750 – 800
8620 C=0.20 Cr=0.5 Ni=0.6 Mo=0.2 190 500 – 520
18NiCrMo5 C=0.18 Cr=0.9 Mn=0.8 Ni=1.3 Mo=0.25 210 700 – 750
TOOL STEELS
GRADE AISI GRADE UNI MAIN ALLOY COMPONENTS CORE HARDNESS HV/HRC SURFACE HARDNESS HV1
D2 C=1.5 Cr=12 Mo=1 V=1.1 Co=1 580 / 54 1270 – 1370
X150CrMo12 C=1.5 Cr=12 Mo=0.8 580 / 54 1270 – 1370
H13 AFNOR Z40 C=0.40 Cr=5.2 Mo=1.5 V=1 480 / 48 1150 – 1280
X38CrMoV5.1 C=0.40 Cr=5.2 Mo=1.1 V=0.4 480 / 48 1180 – 1280
40CrMnMo7 C=0.40 Cr=2 Mn=1.5 Mo=0.2 340 / 34 870 – 930
M7 DIN 1.3348 C=1 Cr=3.8 Mo=9 W=1.8 V=2 787 / 63 1100
M42 DIN 1.3247 C=1.1 Cr=3.9 Mo=9.5 W=1.5 V=1.1 Co=8. 865 / 66 1100
STAINLESS STEEL
GRADE AISI GRADE UNI MAIN ALLOY COMPONENTS CORE HARDNESS HV/HRC SURFACE HARDNESS HV1
X5CrNiMo18.10 C=.07 Cr=18 Ni=10 Mo=2 230 1150 – 1250
316L X2CrNiMo18.10 C=.03 Cr=18 Ni=12 Mo=2 230 1150 – 1250
440B X90CrMoV18 C=0.0 Cr=17 Mn=1 Si=1 Mo=0.75 420 / 43 1000 – 1350
17-4 PH C=.07 Cr=16 Mn=1 Si=1 Ni=4 Cu=4 Nb=.3 300 / 30 950 – 1100

A surface exposed to a nitriding medium will generally form two distinct layers. The outside layer is called a compound layer (or white layer) and its thickness generally falls between zero and 0.001” (25 µm). Underneath the white layer we have a diffusion case or diffusion zone. Both together comprise what is generally referred to as the case. However, depending on the material and its original pre-process hardness there will be very significant differences between the properties of these layers.

The images of two Vickers hardness tester indentations shown below illustrate the difference between a controlled and uncontrolled process. The specimen on the left was produced in a traditional process and the cracking of the surface is indicative of the brittleness of the layer. The one on the right is a product of a Nitreg® process where, in spite of the same hardness, cracks have not formed. The Nitreg® treated component is therefore more resilient with high toughness of the compound layer.

Such superior result can only be achieved by controlling the nitrogen concentration in the substrate and the modern approach is control of nitriding potential (KN). Proper understanding and application of the principles that tie nitriding potential (KN), temperature and time are the cornerstone of the Nitreg® technology. An example of our ability to produce a variety of white layer / diffusion case combinations is shown in the following chart, Nitrided case combinations (PDF)

Gradually the ability to control the nitriding potential is becoming a requirement as set forth by specifications such as AMS 2759/10.

In conclusion, Nitreg® is a modern process, capable of meeting the metallurgical requirements of all nitriding specifications that may have been originally written for salt bath, plasma or traditional gas nitriding

PROPERTIES / FEATURES NITREG® Controlled Nitriding Conventional Gas Salt Bath Plasma (Ion)
Cleaning (Before) Clean Clean Relatively Clean Very Clean
Cleaning (After) Not required Not required Strongly Required Not Required
Heating Time Short Short Very Short Long
Positioning of Parts Simple Simple Simple Very Complex / Requires Skill & Experience
Nitriding of Stainless Steel Possible Not Possible Possible Possible
Operation of Equipment Very Simple /Fully Automated Relatively Simple Simple Very Complex / Requires Advanced Skills
Temperature Control & Uniformity Excellent Good Good Difficult / Insufficient / Overheat Possible
Control of Nitriding Potential Yes No No No
Control of % of ε and γ’ Possible No No Possible
Nitriding with No White Layer Possible No No Possible
Porosity Control Possible No No Possible
Repeatability of Results Excellent (regardless of load) Possible (repetitive loads only) Possible (repetitive loads only) Possible (repetitive loads only)
Equipment Maintenance Simple Relatively Complex Complex Very Complex
Degree of Pollution Very Low High Extremely High Very low
BROCHURE