Quantitative Characterization of Nitrocarburized Powertrain Components
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 500 000 |
| Project duration | February 2020 - July 2022 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Research infrastructure - utilisation and collaboration |
| Call | Industrial pilot projects for the utilisation of neutron and photon based techniques at large-scale infrastructures - Autumn 2019 |
| End-of-project report | 2019-05271_Bodycote_VolvoLastvagnarnr2.pdf (pdf, 406 kB) |
Important results from the project
The project has fulfilled its aim and objective to study the micromechanical response of the compound layer of nitrocarburized steels via in-situ 2D X-ray diffraction (mapping) and nanoindentation. The project results will be compiled into a publication that we hope will be available in the coming year (2023). Through the project our industrial partners were informed regarding different opportunities using synchrotron light sources. Micro mechanics were chosen because it can have an direct impact on component requirements.
Expected long term effects
The micromechanical response has been captured by first identifying crystalline phases present and then creating a strain field from the shift in the position of the diffraction peaks with increasing strain. The expectation is that the results will facilitate to establish requirements on microstructure in commercial nitrocarburizing.
Approach and implementation
In the project, three different steels have been examined with two different heat treatments. From these components, a complex sample preparation has been carried out with die-sink electrical discharge machining (die-sink EDM) and FIB milling (focused-ion beam). It was thus possible to map the crystal structure in transmission with X-ray diffraction at the synchrotron with simultaneous loading via nanoindenter. A total of 142 hours of beam time was carried out on two different occasions at Petra III and beamline P03 MiNaXs. The project was done by Bodycote, AB Volvo and RISE -in collaboration with KTH and Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon.