Structure and properties of nitrided low-carbon martensitic steel 12Kh2G2NMFT

Alloying low-carbon marlensitic steels supresses transfonnations in the pearlite and bainite temperature ranges, leading to a structure of low-carbon martensite upon cooling at a relatively low rate. The retention of the martensitic structure in the course of nitriding of the 12Kh2G2NMFT steel permits increasing structural strength of the sample core, decreasing brittleness, and increasing depth of the diffusion layer with a simultaneous reduction of the number of technological operations employed. The acceleration of diffusion processes is due to an increase in the effective coefficient of nitrogen diffusion in low-carbon martensite as compared to a ferrite-carbide structure. The wear resistance of nitrided low-carbon martensitic steel 12Kh2G2NMFr at high contact loads substantially surpasses the wear resistance of the nitrided steel 38Kh2MYuA.