Complex beam-plasma surface treatment of high-chromium steel

Abstract

Here, using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and tribological test data, we study the surface structure and properties of high-chromium steel 420 exposed to three types of surface modification: intense electron beam irradiation (40 J/cm2, 200 μs, 3 pulses), nitriding in low-pressure arc plasma (550 °C, 4 h), and their combination in a single vacuum cycle. The study suggests that all types of treatment enhance the microhardness and the wear resistance of the steel compared to its initial state: their values are increased respectively 1.5 and 3.2 times after irradiation, 2 and more than 800 times after nitriding, and 2.3 and more than 100 times after irradiation and further nitriding in a single vacuum cycle.