Ion-nitriding of austenitic stainless steels
- BW Fuel Co., Lynchburg, VA (United States)
- Framatome-Nuclear Fuel, Lyon (France)
- Nitruvid, Argenteuil (France)
- EMN/LSGS, Nancy (France)
Although ion-nitriding is an extensively industrialized process enabling steel surfaces to be hardened by nitrogen diffusion, with a resulting increase in wear, seizure and fatigue resistance, its direct application to stainless steels, while enhancing their mechanical properties, also causes a marked degradation in their oxidation resistance. However, by adaption of the nitriding process, it is possible to maintain the improved wear resistant properties while retaining the oxidation resistance of the stainless steel. The controlled diffusion permits the growth of a nitrogen supersaturated austenite layer on parts made of stainless steel (AISI 304L and 316L) without chromium nitride precipitation. The diffusion layer remains stable during post heat treatments up to 650 F for 5,000 hrs and maintains a hardness of 900 HV. A very low and stable friction coefficient is achieved which provides good wear resistance against stainless steels under diverse conditions. Electrochemical and chemical tests in various media confirm the preservation of the stainless steel characteristics. An example of the application of this process is the treatment of Reactor Control Rod Cluster Assemblies (RCCAs) for Pressurized Water Nuclear Reactors.
- OSTI ID:
- 389754
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951222-; ISBN 0-87170-561-3; TRN: IM9646%%39
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International conference on carburizing and nitriding with atmospheres, Cleveland, OH (United States), 6-8 Dec 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of 1995 Carburizing and nitriding with atmospheres: Conference proceedings; Grosch, J. [ed.] [Technical Univ. of Berlin (Germany)]; Morral, J. [ed.] [Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)]; Schneider, M. [ed.] [Timken Co., Inc., Canton, OH (United States)]; PB: 403 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
21 NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
STAINLESS STEEL-304L
NITRIDATION
MICROSTRUCTURE
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
CORROSION RESISTANCE
STAINLESS STEEL-316L
PWR TYPE REACTORS
CONTROL ELEMENTS
ION BEAMS
PLASMA
DIFFUSION
LAYERS
AUSTENITE
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
HARDNESS
WEAR RESISTANCE
DEFORMATION
CRACKS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA