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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
316 L stainless steel (nominally 18% Cr, 8% Ni, 2% Mo, 1% Mn, balance Fe) has been ion nitrided in a N2/H2 atmosphere. Studies of nitride layer depth, structure, composition and microhardness show uniform layer formation with a sharp layer-to-matrix interface and a hardness increase over the bulk value by 600%. The structures of the nitride layers vary with treatment temperature, falling into two regimes over the temperature range studied. Generally, parabolic layer growth was found, and the growth coefficients were determined at five temperatures.