IMPROVED PROCESS FOR DIFFUSING TITANIUM AND NITRIDE INTO A STEEL OR STEEL ALLOY BY ALTERING THE CONTENT OF SUCH

摘要

An improved method is provided for diffusing titanium and nitride into a base material comprising a steel or steel alloy. The composition of the base material generally comprises at least one of the following: more than about 1.95% vanadium, less than about 4.1% chromium, and a presence of cobalt. The method generally includes the steps of providing such a base material; providing a salt bath which includes sodium dioxide and a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium cyanate and potassium cyanate; dispersing metallic titanium formed by electrolysis of a titanium compound in the bath; heating the salt bath to a temperature ranging from about 430° C. to about 670° C.; and soaking the base material in the salt bath for a time of from about 10 minutes to about 24 hours.