Growth kinetics of nitride layers during postdischarge nitriding

Abstract

Experimental data from microwave postdischarge nitriding during growth of a γ′ layer have been used to estimate the diffusion coefficient of nitrogen in γ′-Fe 4N 1− x . Based on a model obtained from a mass balance and considering thermodynamic equilibrium at the γ′/ α interface during growth, a self-diffusivity of nitrogen in γ′ was obtained: D γ′ N=3.83×10 −10 exp(−93 500 J/RT) (m 2 s −1), for 773 K< T<843 K.