Evaluation of gas nitriding process with in-process variation of nitriding potential for AISI H13 tool steel

Gas nitriding under controlled nitriding potential represents one of the important factors in enhancing the service life of dies used in the industry for hot aluminum extrusion. In the present study, AISI H13, a typical material used for hot extrusion dies, is gas nitrided using automated two-stage controlled nitriding process. Prior heat treatment on the material was carried out under the same controlled environment as used for hot extrusion dies to avoid any decarburization. The nitrided layer has been characterized using different techniques including optical microscopy, SEM, XRD, EDS, and microhardness analysis. It was found that controlled nitriding with in-process variation of nitriding potential can efficiently be used to control the morphology of compound layer and diffusion zone, effective case depth, case hardness, and quality of nitrided layer at sharp edges for better die performance. All the results were found in close agreement with established specifications required for improved die performance.