Chemical-heat treatment of materials used for fabrication of tools and effects of this treatment to durability of tools

Purpose: The aim of the presented researches is development and design of fluid bed mixed by hot gas. The fluid bed is designed to the chemical-heat treatment with thermo-active powders. This treatment is used for tools and mechanical parts. Design/methodology/approach: Contribution is focused on increasing of the cutting property of tools made from high speed steel by chemical-heat treatment. Precisely nitrocarburizing at a fluid mixture of a thermo-active powder was used. Possibilities of this method of nitrocarburizing are described in the contribution, especially advantages, disadvantages and effects on the durability of the tools and mechanical parts. Findings: The material test have showed that the surface layer made by fluid process have better properties than layers made by classical method. But the verification test of the tools with nitrocarburizing did not show increasing of durability. Research limitations/implications: Layer of nitrocarburizing was evaluated by material tests as nanoindentation and scratch-test. Moreover working test of the tools and parts was made for detection of the effect of the fluid-nitrocarburizing to the durability of the tools and properties of the parts. Originality/value: The chemical-heat treatment with fluid bed extends durability of thermo-active powders against treatments without fluidization. Other advantage of the treatment with fluidization is reducing of the energy consumption of the technological process.