Synthesis and behavior of bulk iron nitride soft magnets via high-pressure spark plasma sintering

In this study, dense bulk iron nitrides (FexN) were synthesized for the first time ever using spark plasma sintering (SPS) of FexN powders. The Fe4N phase of iron nitride in particular has significant potential to serve as a new soft magnetic material in both transformer and inductor cores and electrical machines. The density of SPSed FexN increased with SPS temperature and pressure. The microstructure of the consolidated bulk FexN was characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. XRD revealed a primary phase of Fe4N with secondary phases of Fe3N and metallic iron. Finite element analysis (FEA) was also applied to investigate and explain localized heating and temperature distribution during SPS. The effects of processing on interface bonding formation and phase evolution were investigated and discussed in detail to provide insight into fundamental phenomena and microstructural evolution in SPSed FexN. Graphic abstract

The Duplex Coating Formation Using Plasma Nitriding and CrN PVD Deposition on X39CrMo17-1 Stainless Steel

The nitriding process is a well-known technology for increasing of wear resistance of steel. The conventional gas nitriding process of stainless steel is difficult in the case of surface passivation and formation of Cr2O3. The using of plasma enables to form hard surface area during the nitriding process. The plasma nitriding process was developed using Ionit Metaplas device. The kinetic growth was analysed in 2, 4, 6 and 8 h processes. The plasma gasses composition was selected for formation only diffusion layer without “white area” of nitrides. The microstructure, chemical and phase composition were analysed. As a result, the diffusion layer was formed. The iron nitrides formed the precipitations in the diffusion layer. The obtained results showed that 4h process enables to form nitride layer with required composition and hardness. The relationship between process time and nitride layer thickness and its hardness was observed.

Improving the wear resistance of heavy-duty elements in tribomechanical systems by a combined laser-thermochemical processing method

This paper reports an analysis of the state of tribological support in the aviation industry. The use of surface strengthening technologies to extend the resource of friction node parts has been prioritized. Modern combined technologies of nitriding and laser treatment of steel surfaces have been reviewed. The mechanism has been elucidated that damages steel 30H2NVFA in the jackscrew actuator of transport aircraft flaps, which occurs due to insufficient surface hardness of the material after a generally accepted heat treatment. Auger electron spectroscopy analysis revealed a high concentration of oxygen on the surface: up to 41.4 at. %; the friction surface carbonation has been detected, especially significant at the surface of the pitting damage. A comprehensive technology of surface strengthening by nitriding+laser selective hardening has been suggested. The radiation power was 1 KW, the diameter of the focus spot was 2.5 mm, and the pitch between the focus spot centers was 2.5 mm. The total area of laser processing was 70 %. The steel temperature exceeded Ас3 and corresponded to the hardening temperature range. The depth of the nitrided layer increased to 400 µm, the maximum hardness on the surface was 1,350–1,380 HV0.2. The formation of a solid nitrided layer with a thickness of 200‒250 µm was observed, as well as a transition zone composed of column-shaped iron nitrides, which are introduced into the matrix material. As a result, a sharp gradient in the mechanical properties disappears. The tests confirmed that the wear resistance of the comprehensively treated surface was 2.1 times higher under dry friction conditions, and 4.5 times higher when lubricated with the "Era" grease (RF), compared with the 30H2NVFA steel nitrided by the conventional technology. In addition, there was no fragile destruction of the surface; the interaction with oxygen reduced significantly

Phase transitions in the Fe/NH3/H2 and Fe-N systems

In the article, based on the literature, the phase changes in iron nitrides on iron powders and on solid samples were discussed. Phase transformations in NH3/H2 atmosphere and in inert atmospheres are discussed. The similarity of phase transformations in different atmospheres used during annealing were indicated. The conditions of phase transformations in iron nitrides during annealing in NH3/H2 atmosphere, argon and vacuum were discussed. Phase transformations occurring during annealing in the NH3/H2 atmosphere are reversible and there is a hysteresis phenomenon. During the phase transformation ɛγ' in the NH3/H2 atmosphere until the transformation is completed, nitrogen emission to the atmosphere takes place. On the other hand, the condition for the course of the transformation of γ'ɛ is the nitrogen flow from the atmosphere to the surface. Phase changes during heating in vacuum and argon are irreversible. During continuous heating at a rate of 30 K / min in vacuum and argon, nitrided iron powders, two phase transformations may occur, which are not accompanied by weight loss, the first (α+γ')γN in the temperature range 540÷550°C in a vacuum and 620÷630°C in argon and the second (γ+γ')ɛ in the range of 610÷620°C in vacuum and 690÷710°C in argon. In the case of heating in argon, the onset of weight loss was recorded at a temperature of about 860°C. Whereas in vacuum the denitration of nitrogen austenite γN ends at this temperature. During annealing at the temperature of 360°C, the phase change ɛγ′ in the ɛ/γ′ layer is accompanied by an increase in the thickness of the γ′ phase, which is at the expense of the thickness of the ɛ zone, while the total thickness of the layer after the transformation is the same as its initial thickness. At the temperature of 420°C, after the completion of the γ′ transformation, the formed monophasic layer γ′ is thicker than the ɛ/γ′ layers in the initial state.

Preparation of Iron Nitride Material from Natural Iron Sand

Iron nitride is a promising material for soft magnetic composite. In the current research, iron nitride compound was produced from natural iron sand, involving coprecipitation and gas nitriding. Prior to coprecipitation, natural iron sands were separated magnetically to obtain pure Fe3O4. Afterward, the coprecipitation was carried out to obtain nanosized Fe3O4. Gas nitriding of Fe3O4 powders was performed at different temperatures i.e. 500 °C, 600 °C and 700 °C, under flowing NH3 gas. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) are used to investigate the phases obtained after the nitriding process. XRD patterns of the resulted powder indicate that nitriding temperature at 600 °C and 700 °C can produce iron nitride material, i.e. ε-Fe3N. While nitriding temperature of 500 °C is not able to yield iron nitrides. SEM examination reveals that the ε-Fe3N has irregular lamellar morphology. Some impurities are still detected, in the form of Fe3O4, Fe2O3, Ti2O3 and TiO2. Further works regarding the examination of the magnetic properties of the powders will be carried out.

Effects of Carbon Content Change on Growth of Compound Layer in Surface of Nitrided Steel

When steel is nitrided, a compound layer mainly composed of iron nitrides, ε-Fe2~3N and the γ’-Fe4N phase, is formed on the steel surface. It is an extremely important industrial issue to clarify factors governing the formation of the compound layer during nitriding and to establish unified views on the mechanism of compound layer formation. Therefore, in order to clarify the effect of change in carbon concentration on the growth of the ε phase and the γ’ phase in the compound layer on nitrided steel, we evaluated the change over time in the concentration of the alloy elements in the surface layer, and the phases of the compound layer on nitrided steels containing various amount of carbon in the matrix. The results were that the change over time in the carbon concentration in the compound layer was mainly responsible for the change over time in the phases of the compound layer. Furthermore, it was discovered that the change over time in the carbon concentration distribution occurred because both increasing of carbon from the matrix to the compound layer, and decreasing of carbon from the surface of compound layer to the atmosphere. That caused the gradient change of chemical potential of carbon in the through-thickness direction of compound layer, and the phases of the compound layer were changed with the treatment time.

Thermodynamics of Chemical Processes in the System of Nanocrystalline Iron–Ammonia–Hydrogen at 350 °C

Nanocrystalline iron nitriding and the reduction of nanocrystalline iron nitrides in steady states at 350 °C are described using the chemical potential programmed reaction (CPPR), thermogravimetry (TG), 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. It was determined that during the process of nitriding of nanocrystalline iron, larger nanocrystallites formed the γ’ phase and the smallest nanocrystallites (about 4%) were transformed into the α” phase. Both phases were in chemical equilibrium, with the gas phase at the temperature of 350 °C. Stable iron nitride α” was also formed in the ε iron nitride reduction process. Taking the α” phase in the system of nanocrystalline Fe-NH3-H2 into account, it was found that at certain nitriding potentials in the chemical equilibrium state, three solid phases in the nitriding process and four solid phases in the reduction process may coexist. It was also found that the nanocrystallites of ε iron nitride in their reduction process were transformed according to two mechanisms, depending on their size. Larger nanocrystallites of iron nitride ε were transformed into the α-iron phase through iron nitride γ’, and smaller nanocrystallites of ε nitride went through iron nitride α”. In the passivation process of nanocrystalline iron and/or nanocrystalline iron nitrides, amorphous phases of iron oxides and/or iron oxynitrides were formed on their surface.