CHARACTERIZATION OF A PLASMA NITROCARBURIZED Fe-31.2Mn-7.5Al-1.3Si-0.9C STEEL ALLOY

The alloys of the Fe-Mn-Al-C system belongs to one of the most promising steel families able to meet the increasing requirements of steels with high resistance to weight relationship. This is particularly important in the aeronautics and automotive transportation industries, aimed at reducing the consumption of fuel and consequent CO₂ emissions, thus meeting the growing environmental constraints. Their densities, about 10 a 13% lower than those of the conventional steels due to its aluminum content and the possibility of increasing the mechanical strength by the precipitation treatment of k carbides (Fe,Mn)Al₃C allows high specific strength. The use of Surface Engineering techniques, attached to suitable heat treatment, can extend the performance range of these alloys, in terms of mechanical strength, wear and corrosion resistances. This work performed plasma nitrocarburizing thermochemical treatments in a steel with Fe-31.2Mn-7.5Al-1.3Si-0.9C composition (wt%), in order to obtain layers with high mechanical performances. The layers produced were characterized by micrographic, hardness, x-rays diffraction and wear tests. All tests were also be carried out on the substrate and the results used for comparison purposes, to verify the effectiveness of treatments.