Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals
Publication Date
2021
Abstract
Steel is an important component in the industrialized world with rising growth in world consumption. Steel has wide applications due to its high strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness. This has applications in the nuclear power plant. In Indonesian nuclear industry, low carbon steel is used not only for the fabrication of reactor components but also for the radiometallurgical facilities. However, to avoid the risk of premature failure and enhance the longevity of the components in the service condition, surface modification for the improvement of hardness has been realized. Amongst several methods, surface hardening by following nitrocarburizing has been found to be a successful and cost-effective method. Nitrocarburizing enable the formation of desirable phases of FexN (x = 2-3, 4) in the compound layer and also in the diffusion layers. In the present study nitrocarburizing had been followed at variable gas ratio and temperatures. A gas mixture of 10% C2H2, 50% argon, and 40% nitrogen had been fed into the reactor. The results show that there is an increase in hardness value, by addition of argon gas up to 50% in the nitrocarburizing process, making the sample harder. With the variation of temperature the enhancement of hardness could be achieved up to 7% to 10% of the initial hardness. When compared with previous studies, the maximum addition of argon is in the range of 10% to 30% because it provides a more optimal increase in hardness.
First Page
26
Last Page
32
Recommended Citation
Hermawan, Erwan; Suprapto, Suprapto; Sudjadi, Usman; Shaleha, Siti; and Ajiriyanto, Maman Kartaman
(2021)
"Effect of nitrocarburizing and argon admixing on low carbon steel for component facility in radiometallurgical installation,"
Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals: Vol. 31:
No.
4, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/jmmm/vol31/iss4/3