As previously reported by the auther, wear resistance of a cast iron surface is improved greatly by a proper sulfurization in a H
2S atmosphere followed by a diffusion treatment. However, the difusion treatment time is too long to be practical. Nitrogen is known to increase the diffusion rate of carbon and sulfur in iron. In order to study the effect nitrogen on the sulfurization process, cast iron was heattreated in H
2S-NH
3 atmosphere. The samples were examined by means of X-ray analysis, chemical analysis, metallography and hardness measurement. The following results were obtained.
(1) The surface film formed in NH
3-H
2S atmosphere consisted of pyrrhotite (Fe
1-xS) as in the case of H
2S atmosphere. The mixed atmosphere containing NH
3 over 96% was strongly sulfurizing.
(2) The parabolic law was held in the mixed atmosphere as in the pure H
2S atmosphere.
(3) As the NH
3 ratio was increased from 0 to 90%, the sulfide film thickness increased. Above 90%, the amount of sulfide decreased rapidly with the increasing NH
3.
(4) Sulfur diffused layer of the thickness of 0.05 to 0.15mm was observed beneath the sulfide film.
(5) The position of the hardness peak in the surface layer was different in a NH
3-H
2S treated iron from that in a H
2S treated iron.
(6) The sulfur content in the sulfur diffused layer increased as the NH
3 ratio increased at treating temperature below 500°C. On the contrary, at 600°C the sulfur content decreased with the increased ratio of NH
3.
(7) It was concluded that a proper amount of nitrogen in the sulfurized layer accelerated the diffusion of sulfur and hence the formation of sulfide on the surface of cast iron.
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