Abstract
In this study, we propose a rapid plasma-assisted nitriding process using H2/N2 mixture gas in an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) system to treat the surface of SKD11 cold-working steel in order to increase its surface hardness. The generated NH radicals in the plasma region are used to implement an ion-bombardment for nitriding the tempered martensite structure of SKD11 within 18 min to form the functional nitride layer with an increased microhardness around 1095 HV0.3. Higher ratios of H/E and H3/E2 were obtained for the values of 4.514 × 10−2 and 2.244 × 10−2, referring to a higher deformation resistance as compared with the pristine sample. After multi-cycling impact tests, smaller and shallower impact craters with less surface oxidation on plasma-treated SKD11 were distinctly proven to have the higher impact wear resistance. Therefore, the atmospheric pressure plasma nitriding process can enable a rapid thermochemical nitriding process to form a protective layer with unique advantages that increase the deformation-resistance and impact-resistance, improving the lifetime of SKD11 tool steel as die materials.
Highlights
Tool steels are used to make manufacturing tools for metal shaping, cutting, and forming into components and accessories
SKD11 is a cold-work steel used in molds and dies for applications such as drawing, blanking, and piercing with prepared dies due to its excellent characteristics of wear and abrasion resistance [2]
To realize the need for long-life high-precision cold-work dies, several methods have been selected for implementing heat and surface treatments: quench/tempering, high-frequency hardening, laser hardening, carburizing, nitriding, physical vapor deposition (PVD), and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) [3]
Summary
Tool steels are used to make manufacturing tools for metal shaping, cutting, and forming into components and accessories. Atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) has been discussed in recent decades as a promising technique in extensive applications. It utilizes plasma at normal pressure, offering possible advantages of eliminating an expensive vacuum system, on-line processing capabilities, high efficiency, and scalability to a larger area [12]. The reported applications, such as biological responses, surface modifications of polymers, etching, film deposition, and agriculture, have been widely discussed [13]. We propose a facile thermochemical process using H2 /N2 working gas in an APPJ system for hardening SKD11 cold-work steel to alter its impact wear behavior as mold materials
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
