Abstract: The cross-sectional microstructure of an ion-nitrided layer on a No.45 steel was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the columnar crystals constitute the compound layer. Most of them have the microstructure of alternating ε-Fe2-3N and γ-Fe4N and others are single ε-Fe2-3N phase. There are abnormal strip ferrites between the columnar crystals. The transition layer mainly consists of spherical γ-Fe4N and cementite (Fe3C) particles in the pearlite are dissolved in this layer. In diffusion layer, besides the equilibrium phase γ-Fe4N, there are α -Fe16N2 and the satellite spots around main spots of α-Fe16N2 demonstrate its modulation structure. A metastable ordered cluster zone of the nitropen atoms was found in the division layer.

Key words: ion nitriding, microstructure, No.45 steel