SURFACE MODIFICATION OF STEEL 1.2343 (EN ISO 4957) BY ION NITRIDING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68302/std2026.vol2.109Keywords:
coefficient of friction, ion nitriding, microstructure, vacuum quenching and temperingAbstract
The present study investigates the surface modification of tool steel 1.2343 (EN ISO 4957) by ion nitriding. Prior to the chemical–thermal treatment, the specimens were subjected to heat treatment consisting of vacuum quenching followed by triple tempering, ensuring structural stabilization before the diffusion process. Ion nitriding was carried out under two temperature–time regimes, namely 490°C for 16 h and 500°C for 11 h, in order to evaluate their influence on microstructure, hardness distribution, and tribological behaviour. Microstructural analysis revealed the absence of a compound (white) layer composed of ε and γ′ phases, while a diffusion layer with a relatively uniform thickness of up to ~250 µm was observed. The effect of the nitriding parameters on surface hardness and hardness depth profiles—from the surface to the core—was systematically analyzed. In addition, tribological tests were performed to determine the coefficient of friction and wear characteristics of the treated surfaces. The results indicate that the applied nitriding regimes significantly influence the development of the diffusion layer and the surface properties, with the regime at 500°C providing a more favorable balance between hardness and tribological performance.
Supporting Agencies
This research was funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Program “Scientific Research, Innovation and Digitization for Smart Transformation 2021-2027”, Project CoC “Smart Mechatronics, Eco- and Energy Saving Systems and Technologies”, BG16RFPR002-1.014-0005.Downloads
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Copyright (c) 2026 Desislava Dimova, Boyan Dochev, Teodor Solakov, Mikaela Dubaradzieva, Nikolay Ivanov
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