Sliding wear behavior of plasma nitrided Austenitic Stainless Steel Type AISI 316LN in the temperature range from 25 to 400 °C at 10−4 bar

There is a research knowledge gap for the dry wear data of nitride treated Stainless Steel in high temperature and high vacuum environment. In order to fill this gap, plasma nitriding was done on austenitic Stainless Steel type AISI 316LN (316LN SS) and dry sliding wear tests have been conducted at 25 °C, 200 °C and 400 °C in high vacuum of 1.6 × 10−4 bar. The two different slider material (316LN SS and Colmonoy) and two different sliding speeds (0.0576 m/s and 0.167 m/s) have been used. The tribological parameters such as friction coefficient, wear mechanism and volume of metal loss have been evaluated. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to study the surface morphology of the worn pins and rings. Electronic balancing machine was used to record the mass of metal loss during wear tests. The 2D optical profilometer was used to measure the depth of the wear track. The Plasma Nitride treated 316LN SS rings (PN rings) exhibit excellent wear resistance against 316LN SS pin and Colmonoy pin at all temperatures. However, PN ring vs. Colmonoy pin Pair shows better wear resistance than PN ring vs. 316LN SS pin Pair at higher temperature.

► Austenitic Stainless Steel Type AISI 316LN (316LN SS) has been used as substrate.
► Wear resistance of nitrided 316LN SS was checked in high vacuum environment.
► Thick nitride coating produces excellent sliding wear resistance in 10−4 bar.
► Nitride coating against Colmonoy slider produces relatively better wear resistance.
► Untreated metal exhibits high friction, heavy surface damage and high wear rate.