Modification of surfaces of special alloys by nitrogen for power engineering

The use of nitrogen as an alloying element presents a great interest for the improvement of properties of alloyed steels and special alloys. Superficial layers were formed by ionic implantation and by melting the surface by nitrogen plasma. After this kind of treatment, there form a continuous defect-free layers with a good adhesion to the surface. Surface treatment of steels and vanadium alloys increases their corrosion resistance and microhardness of surface layers. A combined supply of alloying elements into the melting area allows us to control the type and the density of secondary phases which are formed as the result of the reaction diffusion. In this way, depending on external needs, it is possible to increase either corrosive-electrochemical properties of the surface (when alloyed layers consist mainly of nitride or oxinitride phases) or wear resistance (when carbide or carbonitride phases will constitute a greater specific volume in the formed layers).