Previous Article in Journal
Discussion on the Non-Linear Stability of Short Hydrodynamic Bearings by Applying Rabinowitsch Fluid Model
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Lubricants
Volume 13
Issue 5
10.3390/lubricants13050195
lubricants-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Study of Surface Treatment by Ionic Plasma and Self-Protective Pastes of AISI 304 and 316L Stainless Steels: Chemical, Microstructural, and Nanohardness Evaluation

by
Francisco Martínez-Baltodano
1,
Juan C. Díaz-Guillén
2,
Lizsandra López-Ojeda
1,
Gregorio Vargas-Gutiérrez
1,* and
Wilian Pech-Rodríguez
3
1
Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Saltillo, Ramos Arizpe 25900, Mexico
2
SECIHTI-InnovaBienestar de México, Saltillo 25290, Mexico
3
Department of Advanced Materials, Universidad Politécnica de Victoria, Ciudad Victoria 87138, Mexico
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Lubricants 2025, 13(5), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13050195
Submission received: 25 February 2025 / Revised: 9 April 2025 / Accepted: 22 April 2025 / Published: 24 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Evolution and Wear of Steels)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

This work studied the effect of self-protective paste nitriding (SPN) and ion plasma nitriding (IPN) on the surface chemistry, microstructure, and nanohardness of AISI 304 and 316L stainless steels, with both treated at 440 °C for 5 h. Surface modifications analyzed using SEM and nanoindentation revealed distinct outcomes. SPN induced an oxynitriding effect due to the oxidation properties of the pastes, forming Fe3O4 and FexC phases, while IPN produced an expanded austenite layer. Both methods enhanced surface nanohardness, but SPN showed superior results. For 316L SS, SPN increased nanohardness by 367.81% (6.83 GPa) compared to a 133.5% increase (3.41 GPa) with IPN. For 304 SS, SPN improved nanohardness by 26% (2.23 GPa), whereas IPN reduced it by 48% (0.92 GPa). These findings highlight SPN’s potential as an effective anti-wear treatment, particularly for 316L SS. The SPN process utilized a eutectic mixture of sodium cyanate and sodium carbonate, while IPN employed a N2:H2 (1:1) gas mixture. SEM analyses confirmed the formation of γ-Fe(N) phases, indicating dispersed iron nitrides (FeN, Fe3N, Fe4N). SPN’s simultaneous oxidation and nitrocarburization led to an oxide layer above the nitride diffusion layer, enhancing mechanical properties through iron oxides (Fe3O4) and carbides (FexC). Comparative analysis showed that AISI 316L exhibited better performance than AISI 304, underscoring SPN’s effectiveness for surface modification.
Keywords: surface engineering; mechanical properties; nanohardness; oxynitriding surface engineering; mechanical properties; nanohardness; oxynitriding

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Martínez-Baltodano, F.; Díaz-Guillén, J.C.; López-Ojeda, L.; Vargas-Gutiérrez, G.; Pech-Rodríguez, W. Study of Surface Treatment by Ionic Plasma and Self-Protective Pastes of AISI 304 and 316L Stainless Steels: Chemical, Microstructural, and Nanohardness Evaluation. Lubricants 2025, 13, 195. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13050195

AMA Style

Martínez-Baltodano F, Díaz-Guillén JC, López-Ojeda L, Vargas-Gutiérrez G, Pech-Rodríguez W. Study of Surface Treatment by Ionic Plasma and Self-Protective Pastes of AISI 304 and 316L Stainless Steels: Chemical, Microstructural, and Nanohardness Evaluation. Lubricants. 2025; 13(5):195. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13050195

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martínez-Baltodano, Francisco, Juan C. Díaz-Guillén, Lizsandra López-Ojeda, Gregorio Vargas-Gutiérrez, and Wilian Pech-Rodríguez. 2025. "Study of Surface Treatment by Ionic Plasma and Self-Protective Pastes of AISI 304 and 316L Stainless Steels: Chemical, Microstructural, and Nanohardness Evaluation" Lubricants 13, no. 5: 195. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13050195

APA Style

Martínez-Baltodano, F., Díaz-Guillén, J. C., López-Ojeda, L., Vargas-Gutiérrez, G., & Pech-Rodríguez, W. (2025). Study of Surface Treatment by Ionic Plasma and Self-Protective Pastes of AISI 304 and 316L Stainless Steels: Chemical, Microstructural, and Nanohardness Evaluation. Lubricants, 13(5), 195. https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13050195

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop