Surface Hardening of Titanium Alloy by Nitriding in a Hydrogen-Free Environment in Glow Discharge
摘要
Traditional gas nitriding is extensively employed to enhance the surface properties of titanium alloys. The disadvantages of gas nitriding include the high fragility of the surface layer, the prolonged duration of the saturation process, and the elevated temperatures required for nitriding. To address these challenges and enhance the surface strengthening of titanium and its alloys, the promising method of anhydrous nitriding in a glow discharge is proposed. Anhydrous nitriding in a glow discharge on a diode-type direct current installation with heating elements in a gas discharge chamber. The phase composition of the near-surface layers of the nitrided titanium alloy was determined using a diffractometer. The tests were carried out for four nitriding modes depending on the percentage content of the gas mixture. It was established that oxidation is not the dominant process during nitriding of the VT-22 alloy, and oxide phases are formed only on the surface or in a very thin surface layer. This indicates a controlled course of reactions between titanium and oxygen, possibly due to pretreatment of samples or optimization of nitriding conditions. It has been demonstrated that the nitriding process of the VT-22 titanium alloy in a glow discharge forms a robust surface nitride-modified layer, enhancing their strength. The TiN and Ti2N phases, formed through the chemical interaction of titanium with nitrogen, are the most effective in enhancing surface properties. The aim of further research is to analyze conditions for simplifying the design of plants for nitriding in a glow discharge and to explore the potential of using cyclically switched or alternating current as a power supply for the electrodes of the discharge chamber.