Abstract
This work provides the results of research of the wear resistance of the surface of samples of low carbon structural of 18HN3MA-SH steel, subjected to electrolytic-plasma treatment by nitriding and carbonitriding. The effect of the structure on the surface wear resistance of steel is shown. Changes in abrasive wear and dry friction characteristics were studied depending on temperature and processing time. The results of studies of tribological tests show that after electrolytic-plasma nitriding, the wear resistance of steel 18HN3MA-SH increases by 1.5–2 times compared with the initial state. The observed effects can be explained by the flowing surface modification - the formation of a modified surface layer with the formation of hardening phases. The nature of changes in the surface roughness Ra of steel samples after cementation, carbonitriding and nitriding was studied.