The microstructural development in H13 tool steel upon nitriding by an ion beam process was investigated. The nitriding experiments were performed at a relatively low temperature of about 400\deg C and at constant ion beam energy (400 eV) of different doses in a high-vacuum preparation chamber; the ion source was fed with high purity nitrogen gas. The specimens were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and grazing incidence and Bragg-Brentano X-ray diffractometry. In particular, the influence of the nitrogen surface concentration on the development of the nitrogen concentration-depth profile and the possible precipitation of alloying element nitrides are discussed.

Categories: cond-mat.mtrl-sci

The Microstructure of Tool Steel after Low Temperature Ion Nitriding