Mössbauer investigation of laser nitrided stainless steel and annealing treatments of laser nitrided iron

Abstract

Laser nitriding is used for the fast and easy production of nitride coatings on iron and alloys. Here, first results of the laser nitriding process applied to stainless steel are reported. The laser treatment led to the appearance of additional lines in the Mossbauer spectra, which are attributed to γ-Fe(N) produced by the laser nitriding process. The Mossbauer results are discussed in connection with the results obtained from X-ray diffraction and resonant nuclear reaction analysis. Furthermore, the results of isochronical annealing treatments of laser nitrided iron are reported.