Nitriding of Long-Term Holes in the Cyclic-Commuted Discharge

The effect of anhydrous nitriding in a glow discharge on microhardness, phase composition, and wear resistance of long holes in steels C45, 37Cr4, and 41CrAlMo7 with direct current supply and in cyclically switched discharge (CSD) was studied. Nitriding was carried out on a UATR-1 anhydrous nitriding unit with a discharge chamber diameter of 400 mm and a working height of 700 mm. Anhydrous nitriding in a glowing discharge was carried out at a temperature of 560 °С, a voltage of 730 V, a pressure in the chamber of 120 MPa, and the nitriding duration was 6 h. It was established that using holes with a relatively small diameter of glow discharge in a cyclically switched discharge for nitriding creates conditions for obtaining modified layers with higher physical, mechanical, and tribological characteristics. The results of microhardness measurement and their comparison with X-ray phase analysis data confirm the formation of ε, γ, and α phases during nitriding along the entire height of the samples placed in the experimental model. The tests carried out in the dry friction mode showed an increase in the wear resistance of samples made of steel C45, 37Cr4, and 41CrAlMo7 during nitriding in a cyclically switched discharge. To achieve 100 μm wear of 41CrAlMo7 steel during nitriding in CSD, 1400 m of friction path and 1000 m – during nitriding with direct current is required. It was established that using long holes of a glow discharge with different types of power for nitriding creates conditions for obtaining modified layers with variable characteristics. Nitriding of holes with a relatively small diameter of a glow discharge with a different power supply creates conditions for obtaining modified layers with different physicomechanical and tribological characteristics.