An experimental study on surface modification and tribological behaviors of austenitic stainless steel type aisi 316ln

Abstract

In Indian 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor PFBR many newlineimportant components are sliding in the temperature range of 25C to 400C newlinein liquid sodium As the oxygen level in the sodium is less than 10 ppm, newlineformation of oxide layer is suppressed absented between the sliding surfaces newlineduring sliding Austenitic Stainless Steel AISI 316LN type SS 316LN newlinematerial is selected as structural material for PFBR because of its excellent newlineresistance to corrosion and good compatibility with hot sodium newlineHowever SS 316LN material exhibits poor tribological properties newlinesuch as low sliding wear resistance unstable friction subsurface damage and newlineformation of strong adhesion when it is sliding against itself and other metals newlineTherefore SS 316LN needs to be surface treated to overcome the sliding newlinewear Generally the nitride layer on steel exhibits good wear resistance low newlinefriction good adhesion strength low compressive residual stress good newlinethermal stability and corrosion resistance newline newline