Internal Stresses and Dislocation Structure of Low-Carbon Steel after Electrolyte-Plasma Nitrocementation

In this article, we studied the influence of electrolytic-plasma carbonitriding on the dislocation structure and long-range stress fields of low carbon steel 18HN3MA-SH. Shear stresses and momentary stresses σд in all morphological components of the α-phase and in general for the material for steel 18HN3MA-SH were calculated in the initial state and after exposure to electrolytic plasma. The sources of internal stresses in the studied steel are determined. Research have shown that after carbonitriding in electrolytic plasma, the shape of the particles of the phases present in steel, their size and mutual arrangement are different, and also, the particles of all phases are surrounded by the α-matrix. Compared with the initial state of steel, the torque stresses were significantly lower, i.e. electrolyte-plasma carbonitriding led to a decrease in internal stresses.