Corrosion resistance of chromium nitride and oxynitride layers produced under glow discharge conditions

The paper presents the results of investigations of the structure and corrosion resistance of chromium nitride, oxynitride and oxide layers produced on steels by electrochemical chromium deposition combined with glow discharge assisted nitriding, oxynitriding and oxydizing processes. The layers obtained were of the types: CrN+Cr2N+Cr+(Cr,Fe); Cr2N+Cr+(Cr,Fe); CrN+Cr2N+Cr+(Cr,Fe)7C3; Cr2N+Cr+(Cr,Fe)7C3; Cr(N,O)+Cr+(Cr,Fe)7C3 and Cr2O3. The corrosion resistance of the layers is high and can be modified by changing the process parameters, such as the temperature and chemical composition of the gas atmosphere.