Influence of Nitrogen on Oxidation Resistance of Automotive Steel Grades

With the objective of partial and total replacement of nickel by nitrogen in austenitic exhausted valve steel X45CrNiW18-9, a program of work with series of experimental heats was designed. Experimental heats were carried out in 10 Kg. induction furnace under nitrogen pressure. The chemical composition of produced stainless steels was determined. The produced automotive steel grades were forged. The nitrogen contents were determined. The produced forged stainless steels were subjected to solution treatment at 1050 °C for 1 hour, followed by water cooling. Isothermal oxidation test is used to detect the behavior of new grades at different temperatures in air for solution treated stainless steels. The mass gain was measured for samples exposed to air at temperatures (500 °C, 600 °C, 700 °C, 800°C) for different time intervals, up to 1000 hrs. The oxide layer thickness for two selected steels was investigated by using optical microscope. XRD was used to detect types of oxides which are formed during oxidation process at 800 °C for 1000 hrs for represented investigated exhausted valve steels. Scanning Electron Microscope was used to make scan steels surface, after heating at 500 °C and 800 °C for l000hr. The mechanism of the oxidation of developed steels was investigated. It was found controlled by diffusion mechanism and the kinetic of oxidation process is parabolic. Oxidation rate of the investigated stainless steels for times, up to 8 h and between 200 andl000 h, at all investigated temperatures (500 °C - 800 °C), is parabolic and the oxidation is diffusion controlled. While in the time region 10 to 200 h, it obeys combined mechanisms. Partial replacement of nickel, by nitrogen, improves the oxidation resistance in air at temperature range 500°C - 800°C.