Hardchrome Engineering provides Nitreg® Gas Nitriding of Stainless Steel
Hardchrome Engineering has announced they are about to complete upgrading their Nitreg ® nitriding furnace capacity to include a proprietary technology from Nitrex Metal Inc. (Canada) for gas nitriding of stainless steel.
"This new technology based on the Nitreg® nitriding process allows treatment of stainless steels in one uninterrupted cycle," said Hardchrome's Commerical Manager Craig Dugan. The process is also adapted to meet enviornmental targets through recovery and incineration of emissions. "Currently we operate two state of the art Nitrex computer controlled nitriding systems of which one will be ungraded with the new technology. The upgrade involves retrofitting hardware and software by Nitrex," said Mr. Dugan.
"We believe this will be the only system of its type in Australia and will substantially increase the nitriding options we can offer our cutomers" added Mr Dugan.
Nitriding with Nitreg® significantly increases the hardness, the wear resistance and the fatugue strength of stainless steels. By computer controlling the nitriding potential, a range of case depths, hardnesses, and white layer thickness are possible. The table shows results of some stainless steels nitrided by Nitreg®
Steel Grade |
Process Results after Nitreg® intriding with activation |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time(h) | White layer Thickness (um) |
Case Depth (um) |
Superficial Hardness (HV1) |
|
410 |
7 |
4 |
120 |
950 |
420 |
13 |
3 |
175 |
960 |
422 |
13 |
0 |
75 |
1099 |
440-B |
7 |
5 |
90 |
1070 |
440-C |
7 |
1.5 |
84 |
1070 |
Hitachi ASL-81 (13.5% Cr) |
10 |
5 |
110 |
1050 |
300 series |
7 |
0 |
78 |
915 |
305 |
5 |
5 |
68 |
915 |
300 series (Hitachi ASB125) |
18 |
0 |
110 |
1066 |
304 |
7 |
0 |
65 |
1050 |
17-4 PH |
35 |
6 |
100 |
1041 |
17-4PH |
10 |
0 |
60 |
1100 |
2.1%Cr-2%Ni |
12 |
2 |
60 |
1150 |
2.3%Cr-8%Nil |
12 |
4 |
60 |
1100 |
Custom 455 |
24 |
8 |
160 |
1280 |
A286 |
7 |
0 |
20 |
1011 |
Due to their primitive controls, conventional nitriding processes often result in the formation of brittle nitride layers at the surface of the workplace. (Figure 1) 'With Nitreg® computer controlled nitriding, the nitriding potential is controlled throughout the process thus preventing the formation of brittle nitride layers and allowing for a significantly greater penetration of the nitriding effect. Components nitrided in this manner have a greater case depth, a minimum of distortion and a final uniform case hardness that can be specificed by the client (Figure 2).
 |
Figure 1 Conventional method |
 |
Figure 2 Nitrex® process |
"The application for this technology covers most industries where stainless steel is used and where improved wear and/or hardness requirements are essential, "concluded Mr Dugan. One example is the gear industry. Looking at the cross section of a 17 -4PH stainless steel gear tooth (Figure 3), we can see that the nitrided case on right, obtained by Nitreg® controlled as nitriding, shows uniformity throughout, whereas the case on the left, obtained by plasma, appears thick and irregular.
 |
 |
| Figure 3 Stainless Steel Nitriding cross section | |
Hardchrome Engineering is a family owned business established in 1968, specialising in engineering, coatins, heat treatment and a number of emerging technologies. The company has two operating centres, one in South Australia and the head office in Clayton, Melbourne. The Melbourne plant comprises of 30,000 m2 of processing area and performs electroplating, aircraft component repair and gas nitriding. The Adelaide facility specialises in the chrome plating of automotive press form dies.
The company employs 60 people, including fully qualified chemists, metallurgical engineers, chemical engineers and first class electroplaters.
For more Information contact:
Hardchrome Engineering
175 Wellington Road
North Clayton Vic 3168
Telephone: 03 95619555
Facsimile: 03 9561 9155
Email: office@hardchrome.com.au
Website: www.hardchrome.com.au