Tribological aspects of plasma nitrided layer in the case of a non-conventional treated steel for industrial gearings

Abstract

Plasma nitriding applied after a non-conventional treatment in magnetic field to the steel used in industry, have been studied in this paper. It have been demonstrated that the energy of the magnetic field intervenes in the balance of the global power of the phase transformations in solid state altering the thermodynamics, kinetics and the mechanisms of processes, the structures and some properties of the steel. The samples have been tested using an Amsler stand for wear tests (dry friction) and the diffractometric analysis completed this study. The plasma nitriding plant used was named the INI 150, was made by the Institute of Radiation Physics and Technology in collaboration with the "Electrotechnics" Enterprise and the Nuclear Apparatus (ICEFIZ) from Romania and was destined for technological research, but can also be used for industrial nitriding of small pieces. INI 150 was based on the physical phenomenon of a double cathode at plasma (ion) nitriding. The paper is a review of my researches from the last years.