Abstract
The paper presents the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations on thin foils concerning phase transitions occurred in the type 0.3C-1Cr-1Mn-1Si-Fe alloyed steel after the electrolyte plasma treatment, i.e. carbonitriding at 850°C during 5 min. TEM investigations involve two points, namely: on the specimen surface and at 50 µm distance from the surface, i.e. in transition layer. It is shown that carbonitriding results in the formation of structures the properties of which are changed at a distance from it’s the specimen surface. Thus, the modified morphology of the steel matrix is represented mostly by high-temperature lamellar martensite on α-phase surface, while the intermediate layer is represented by massive martensite. After carbonitriding, the particles of the alloyed cementite and M2C0.61N0.39, M4(C,N), M7(C,N)3, M23(C,N)6 carbonitrides are observed in all layers inside α-phase crystals and at their boundaries. The concentration of carbon and nitrogen on the surface is considerably higher. The modification of quantity is observed in the distribution and the volume fraction of carbide phases with the distance from the specimen surface, while the amount of carbonitride phases significantly reduces. Also, it is shown that carbonitriding leads to a complete relaxation of the internal local stresses on the specimen surface, while in the intermediate layer plastic stresses are observed.