Publication detail

Decarburization and its effects on the properties of plasma nitrided AISI 4140 steel: A Review

STOJANOVIĆ, Ž. GLIGORIJEVIĆ, B. PRVULOVIĆ, S. BUT, A. SVOBODA, P. PITEĽ, J. VENCL, A.

English title

Decarburization and its effects on the properties of plasma nitrided AISI 4140 steel: A Review

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

en

Original abstract

Despite the surge in plasma nitriding research, few reviews thoroughly examine how surface decarburization—occurring both before and during the treatment—affects AISI 4140 and similar steel grades. This review addresses that shortfall by providing an investigation into the decarburization process and its consequences. It compiles essential findings from prior studies, demonstrating instances of decarburization in both plasma-free and plasma-containing environments. Furthermore, the analysis explores strategies to prevent decarburization and assesses its significant impact on the steel's microstructure, hardness, corrosion resistance, and wear properties in surface and near-surface regions. Moreover, the study proposes directions for future research, emphasizing the necessity for a more detailed understanding of the decarburization mechanisms and their influence on the properties of plasma-nitrided steels.

English abstract

Despite the surge in plasma nitriding research, few reviews thoroughly examine how surface decarburization—occurring both before and during the treatment—affects AISI 4140 and similar steel grades. This review addresses that shortfall by providing an investigation into the decarburization process and its consequences. It compiles essential findings from prior studies, demonstrating instances of decarburization in both plasma-free and plasma-containing environments. Furthermore, the analysis explores strategies to prevent decarburization and assesses its significant impact on the steel's microstructure, hardness, corrosion resistance, and wear properties in surface and near-surface regions. Moreover, the study proposes directions for future research, emphasizing the necessity for a more detailed understanding of the decarburization mechanisms and their influence on the properties of plasma-nitrided steels.

Keywords in English

decarburization; plasma nitriding; low-alloy steel; friction; wear; corrosion

Released

10.05.2025

Publisher

MDPI

Location

Switzerland

ISSN

1996-1944

Volume

18

Number

10

Pages from–to

1–28

Pages count

28

BIBTEX


@article{BUT197840,
  author="Željko {Stojanović} and Bojan {Gligorijević} and Slavica {Prvulović} and Adrian {But} and Petr {Svoboda} and Ján {Piteľ} and Aleksandar {Vencl},
  title="Decarburization and its effects on the properties of plasma nitrided AISI 4140 steel: A Review",
  year="2025",
  volume="18",
  number="10",
  month="May",
  pages="1--28",
  publisher="MDPI",
  address="Switzerland",
  issn="1996-1944"
}