Efeito do hidrogênio e mecanismos na pós-oxidação por plasma pulsado de ligas ferrosas nitretadas

Abstract

This work shows the hydrogen effect and the influence of processing temperature and time in the post-oxidation treatment by pulsed plasma on nitrided AISI 1045 ferrous alloy. The crystalline structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Rietveld refinement method was used in order to quantify the present phases in the system. The electronic structure of the oxide layer was studied by X-ray photoemission electron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology and oxide layer thickness were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The mechanical properties were studied by nanoindentation tests. In an effort to know the corrosion resistance of our systems, salt spray tests were executed. Hydrogen controls the formation of oxide phases (hematite (α-Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4)). A 25 % H2 concentration in the oxidation gas mixture leads to obtain a hematite-free oxide layer. On one hand, the oxide layer thickness follows an exponential Arrhenius-like behavior with processing temperature which is characteristic of a thermally induced-process with activation energy of 68±5kJ/mol. On the other hand, the oxide layer thickness follows a parabolic-like behavior with processing time which is characteristic of the reaction-diffusion process. Lower temperatures and shorter times of processing render more homogenous and compacts oxide layers with higher hardness. Although, corrosion tests show that surfaces without globular structures, more compacts and with closed-pores have higher corrosion resistances, our system does not attend the minimal specification in order to substitute hard chromium in ferrous alloys.