The effect of ion-plasma treatment on micromechanical characteristics of compositional layers in austenitic stainless steel with different grain sizes

Abstract

In this work, using nanoindentation method and optical microscopy, the local micromechanical characteristics of compositional layers were investigated for fine-grained (3-7 µm) and coarse-grained (70 µm) 316L-type austenitic stainless steel subjected to ion-plasma treatment in a mixture of gases (N2+C2H2+Ar). Independently of the grain size, the ion-plasma treatment facilitates a formation of heterogeneous composition layers of ≈12–25 µm in thickness in steel specimens. The thickness of the hardened layer and diffusion zone increases with an increase in grain size.In this work, using nanoindentation method and optical microscopy, the local micromechanical characteristics of compositional layers were investigated for fine-grained (3-7 µm) and coarse-grained (70 µm) 316L-type austenitic stainless steel subjected to ion-plasma treatment in a mixture of gases (N2+C2H2+Ar). Independently of the grain size, the ion-plasma treatment facilitates a formation of heterogeneous composition layers of ≈12–25 µm in thickness in steel specimens. The thickness of the hardened layer and diffusion zone increases with an increase in grain size.