Effect of DC plasma nitriding temperature on microstructure and dry-sliding wear properties of 316L stainless steel

A wear resistant nitrided layer was formed on 316L austenitic stainless steel substrate by DC plasma nitriding (DCPN). The structural phases, micro-hardness and dry-sliding wear behavior of the nitrided layer were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), micro-hardness tester and ring-on-block wear tester. The results show that a single expanded austenite layer (S-phase) and a single CrN nitride layer were formed at 400 °C and 480 °C, respectively. In addition, the S-phase layers formed on the samples exhibited the best dry-sliding wear resistance under ring-on-block contact configuration test. Wear of the untreated 316L was sever and characterized by strong adhesion, abrasion and oxidation mechanism, whilst wear of the DCPN-treated 316L was mild and dominated by plastic deformation, slight abrasion and frictional polishing.