Nitriding of Fe–18Cr–11Mn powders using mechanical alloying method through aerating nitrogen circularly

Abstract

Mechanical alloying (MA) method was applied to nitride Fe–18Cr–11Mn stainless steel powders through aerating nitrogen circularly. Both the MA process and increasing nitrogen pressure circularly caused the expansion of nitrogen solubility in Fe. The microstructure of powders was affected by the milling time. The phase transformation of α-Fe to γ-Fe occurred during the MA process. The grain size of powder decreased, while the internal lattice strain increased by increasing the milling time and cycles of aerating nitrogen. The as-milled powder could obtain a fully austenitic structure after sintering and subsequent water quenching. The sintered samples had better density and higher microhardness when the powders milled for more time. The formation mechanism of nitriding of stainless steel powders using MA method in nitrogen was presented.