Gas nitriding behavior of refractory metals and implications for multi-principal element alloy design

Lin, Yu-Hsuan; Bohn, Andre; Cheng, Justin Y.; von der Handt, Anette; Mara, Nathan A.; Poerschke, David L.

doi:10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.169568

Gas nitriding behavior of refractory metals and implications for multi-principal element alloy design

Journal Article · Tue Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Journal of Alloys and Compounds

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.169568· OSTI ID:2417933

^[1]; ^[2]; Cheng, Justin Y. ^[2]; von der Handt, Anette ^[2]; Mara, Nathan A. ^[2]; Poerschke, David L. ^[2]

Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States); OSTI
Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) comprise a large, flexible compositional space that enables tuning of their chemistry, structure, and properties. Here, to facilitate the development of nitriding-based surface-enhancement strategies that harness a broad compositional space, this study examined the gas nitriding behavior of Hf, Mo, Nb, Ta, Ti, and Zr as a function of time, temperature (750 and 1000 °C), and nitriding potential (i.e. ammonia-to-hydrogen ratio). These metals were selected because they have a strong driving force to form nitrides, and appear in many promising refractory MPEA compositions. The nitriding temperatures were selected based on the phase transformation temperature of Ti and Zr, and the nitriding potentials were chosen such that all elements are expected to form nitrides. Mass gain measurements indicate that all six elements follow parabolic kinetics. The microstructure observations and quantitative microchemical analysis show formation of dense and well-adhered compound layers for Mo, Nb, and Ta. Thick diffusion zones appear in Hf, Ta, Ti, and Zr, and diffusion coefficients were fit to the composition profiles. Partial delamination of the compound layer occurred for Ti and Zr. Peak hardness values above 30 GPa are obtained in the dense compound layers, and the solute hardening of the underlying alloy is correlated with the nitrogen content. The results provide insight into the dynamics of nitride compound formation relative to interstitial dissolution of nitrogen, and are discussed in the context of MPEA composition and processing design.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Krell Institute, Ames, IA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003960

OSTI ID:: 2417933

Journal Information:: Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Journal Name: Journal of Alloys and Compounds Journal Issue: C Vol. 947; ISSN 0925-8388

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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