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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for method for formation of expanded austenite and/or expanded martensite by solution hardening of a cold deformed workpiece of a passive alloy, which method comprises a first step of 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, and a subsequent second step of dissolving nitrogen and/or carbon in the work piece at a temperature T2, which is lower than the temperature at which carbides and/or nitrides form in the passive alloy. The invention further relates to a member, such as a lock washer for securing bolts or nuts prepared using the method.

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 method of activating an article of passive ferrous or non-ferrous metal by heating at least one compound containing nitrogen and carbon, wherein the article is treated with gaseous species derived from the compound. The activated article can be subsequently carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized in shorter time at lower temperature and resulting superior mechanical properties compared with non-activated articles and even articles of stainless steel, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy or titanium based material can be carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for method for formation of expanded austenite and/or expanded martensite by solution hardening of a cold deformed workpiece of a passive alloy, which method comprises a first step of 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, and a subsequent second step of dissolving nitrogen and/or carbon in the work piece at a temperature T2, which is lower than the temperature at which carbides and/or nitrides form in the passive alloy. The invention further relates to a member, such as a lock washer for securing bolts or nuts prepared using the method.

Abstract: A method of activating an article of passive ferrous or non-ferrous metal by heating at least one compound containing nitrogen and carbon, wherein the article is treated with gaseous species derived from the compound. The activated article can be subsequently carburised, nitrided or nitrocarburised in shorter time at lower temperature and resulting superior mechanical properties compared with non-activated articles and even articles of stainless steel, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy or titanium based material can be carburised, nitrided or nitrocarburised.