Abstract: A method of producing a case hardened workpiece of a Group IV metal including: placing a workpiece of a Group IV metal in a vessel, creating a low pressure environment in the vessel in which the pressure, pvac, is less than or equal to 10-5 bar, providing oxygen to the vessel to create a reactive atmosphere in the vessel, the reactive atmosphere comprising oxygen at a partial pressure, pO2, in the range of 10 5 bar to 0.01 bar, heating the workpiece to a hardening temperature in the range of 650° C. to 800° C. in the reactive atmosphere or before the reactive atmosphere is created, maintaining the workpiece in the reactive atmosphere at the hardening temperature for a reactive period of at least 5 hours, cooling the workpiece from the hardening temperature to ambient temperature in the reactive atmosphere or in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly component of an alloy based on iron, nickel and/or cobalt containing at least 10% (w/w) chromium, the assembly component having an annular shape with an inner surface and an outer surface and a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface in the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm, the alloy having a content of nitrogen in solid solution providing a microhardness in the range of 250 HV0.05 to 370 HV0.05 at a depth from the surface in the range of 0 ?m to 100 ?m. The invention also relates to an assembly with the assembly component.

Abstract: A method of producing a case hardened workpiece of a Group IV metal including: placing a workpiece of a Group IV metal in a vessel, creating a low pressure environment in the vessel in which the pressure, pvac, is less than or equal to 10 5 bar, providing oxygen to the vessel to create a reactive atmosphere in the vessel, the reactive atmosphere comprising oxygen at a partial pressure, pO2, in the range of 10 5 bar to 0.01 bar, heating the workpiece to a hardening temperature in the range of 650° C. to 800° C. in the reactive atmosphere or before the reactive atmosphere is created, maintaining the workpiece in the reactive atmosphere at the hardening temperature for a reactive period of at least 5 hours, cooling the workpiece from the hardening temperature to ambient temperature in the reactive atmosphere or in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly component of an alloy based on iron, nickel and/or cobalt containing at least 10% (w/w) chromium, the assembly component having an annular shape with an inner surface and an outer surface and a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface in the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm, the alloy having a content of nitrogen in solid solution providing a microhardness in the range of 250 HV0.05 to 370 HV0.05 at a depth from the surface in the range of 0 ?m to 100 ?m. The invention also relates to an assembly with the assembly component.

Abstract: A profiled element suitable for repeated deformation and relaxation, which profiled element is made from a case hardened stainless steel including at least 9% chromium and up to 6% nickel which profiled element has a material thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm and a nitrogen martensitic case with a case depth in the range of from 10 ?m to 50 ?m and a surface hardness of up to 750 HV0.05 and to a method of case hardening a workpiece made from a stainless steel including at least 9% chromium and up to 5% nickel, which workplace has a material thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm. The profiled element may be a fixing element for fixing a bearing element and a fastening element against each other, and the method is suited in the manufacture of the fixing element.

Abstract: A method for method for solution hardening of a cold deformed workpiece of a passive alloy containing at least 10% chromium, which method includes dissolving at least nitrogen in the workpiece at a temperature T1, which is higher than the solubility temperature for carbide and/or nitride and lower than the melting point of the passive alloy, wherein dissolution of nitrogen at temperature T1 is performed to obtain a diffusion depth in the range of 50 ?m to 5 mm, and cooling the workpiece after the dissolution step at temperature T1 to a temperature which is lower than the temperature at which carbides and/or nitrides form in the passive alloy, wherein the cooling step takes place in an inert gas not containing nitrogen. Further, a member, such as a lock washer for securing bolts or nuts prepared using the method.

Abstract: A profiled element suitable for repeated deformation and relaxation, which profiled element is made from a case hardened stainless steel including at least 9% chromium and up to 6% nickel which profiled element has a material thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm and a nitrogen martensitic case with a case depth in the range of from 10 ?m to 50 ?m and a surface hardness of up to 750 HV0.05 and to a method of case hardening a workpiece made from a stainless steel including at least 9% chromium and up to 5% nickel, which workplace has a material thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm. The profiled element may be a fixing element for fixing a bearing element and a fastening element against each other, and the method is suited in the manufacture of the fixing element.