Study on a new type nitriding steel microalloyed with niobium

A niobium microalloyed nitriding steel has been introduced to meet the high demand in modern engine applications,based on compositions of traditional nitriding steels,and on phase calculation and prediction with JmatPro software.The new nitriding steel BTHJ-1 shows a better nitriding tendency,as well as a good combination of strength and toughness,while compared with 38CrMoAl and H13 steels.BTHJ-1 steel also shows a better thermal stability when being held at 620℃.Investigations with OM,TEM,XRD have been made so as to get a better understand on the characteristics of BTHJ-1 steel.The quantities optimization of alloy elements and the grain refinement of niobium seem to be reasons for the improved properties of the nitriding steel.