Characterization of surface mechanical properties of H13 steel implanted by plasma immersion ion implantation

AISI H13 steel samples were implanted with nitrogen using plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) at 320 or 380 °C. In addition, PIII was used for simultaneous implantation of carbon and nitrogen into H13 steel at 380 °C. Treated and untreated samples were studied by wear-friction testing, microhardness measurement, atomic force microscopy and glancing angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) diagnosis. Experimental results indicated that the hardness and wear resistance were improved by increasing the PIII treatment temperature, whereas the presence of C ions does the opposite. It is explained by a nitride formation and a lattice expansion between 1.7 and 2.23%.