Influence of Pulse Parameters on the Plasma Nitriding of SCM435 Steels

The effect of the pulse parameters(pulse ratio and frequency) on the characteristics of the nitrided layer in the pulsed plasma nitrified SCM435 Steels was investigated. Material properties of the nitrided layer were analysed by employing optical microscope, scanning electron microscope(SEM), X-ray diffractometer(XRD) and micro-Vickers hardness tester. It was found that both the compound layer thickness and the surface hardness decreased with decreasing of pulse ratios. At high pulse ratio, the compound layer thickness and the surface hardness were rapidly decreased with decreasing frequency compared to lower pulse ratios.