Flux analysis of nitrogen and carbon during nitriding and FNC heat treating

As part of a project to develop a computational simulation software for the FNC process, an experimental investigation of the total fluxes of nitrogen and carbon was conducted. The total mass increase of each test samples was measured and converted to total flux and flux as a function of time. The nitrogen and carbon concentration profiles were measured in the hardened case. The weight gain due to compound layer growth was calculated with compound layer thickness measurement and the phase fraction in the compound layer. The weight gain in the case was calculated based on the nitrogen concentration profile. The results are presented as a function of KN and KC in the gas atmosphere.