Study on vacuum gas nitriding process and surface properties of AISI 430 stainless steel

The surface modification of AISI 430 stainless steel through vacuum gas nitriding leads to the formation of a dense and uniform nitride layer, significantly improving its industrial applicability. Therefore, a systematic investigation into enhancing the surface properties of AISI 430 stainless steel via nitriding processes is essential. This study shows that vacuum gas nitriding can substantially improve the surface performance of AISI 430 stainless steel within a short processing time and at relatively low temperatures. By optimizing key process parameters—including nitriding temperature, treatment duration, and resulting nitride layer thickness—the treated AISI 430 stainless steel achieved a nitride layer thickness of 115.9 μm, a surface hardness of 1380 HV, and an 83% reduction in wear loss. A positive correlation was observed among nitriding temperature, treatment time, and nitride layer thickness, with temperature exerting the most significant influence. This work presents a practical approach to overcoming critical limitations such as low surface hardness and poor wear resistance in AISI 430 stainless steel by fine-tuning vacuum nitriding parameters.