Abstract
The phase changes, nitride precipitation and hardness variations of 14%Cr-6.7Ni-0.65Mo-0.26Nb-0.05V-0.03C super martensitic stainless steel were investigated after nitrogen permeation heat treatment at a temperature range between $1050^{\circ}C$ and $1150^{\circ}C$. The nitrogen-permeated surface layer was transformed into austenite. The rectangular type NbN, NbCrN precipitates and fine round type precipitate were coexisted in the surface austenite layer, while the interior region that was free from nitrogen permeation kept the martensitic phase. The hardness of surface austenite showed 280 Hv, while the interior region of martensite phase represented 340 Hv. When tempering the nitrogen-permeated steel at $450^{\circ}C$, a maximum hardness of 433 Hv was appeared, probably this is attributed to the secondary hardening effect of the precipitates. The nitrogen concentration decreased gradually with increasing depth below the surface after showing a maximum of 0.3% at the outmost surface. The strong affinity between nitrogen and Cr enabled the substitutional element Cr to move from interiors to the surface when nitrogen diffuse form surface to the interior. Corrosion resistance of nitrogen permeated steel was superior to that of solution-anneaed steel in the solution of 1N $H_2SO_4$.
