Nanosized Cr-N clustering in expanded austenite layer of low temperature plasma-nitrided Fe-35Ni-10Cr alloy

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Abstract

Expanded austenite (γN) formed by low temperature nitriding of austenitic stainless steel is a N-enriched fcc containing Cr-N short range ordering, but no direct observation of Cr-N clustering has been reported. In the present study, the nanostructure of an Fe-35Ni-10Cr (at%) alloy plasma-nitrided at 673 K was investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) technique in this study. Nanosized Cr-N clusters were directly observed in the γN accompanied with strong streaks in selected area diffraction, obvious modulated structure in TEM and Cr-N rich regions observed by 3DAP. Thermodynamic calculations suggested that Cr-N clusters were formed by spinodal decomposition due to a strong Cr-N attractive interaction. The hardness of the γN layer was much higher than that of Fe-N austenite steel, which indicates that the hardness is not only due to nitrogen solid-solution hardening but also to a synergetic effect of the coexistence of Cr and N.

Original languageEnglish
Article number114637
JournalScripta Materialia
Volume213
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022 May

Keywords

  • Expanded austenite
  • Short-range ordering
  • Spinodal decomposition
  • Surface modification
  • Three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metals and Alloys

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