Isothermal decomposition behavior of the high nitrogen concentration γ-Fe[N] prepared from pure iron

The isothermal decomposition characteristic of the homogeneous high nitrogen austenitic samples prepared by a new multi-stage nitriding process was investigated by SEM and TEM in this paper. Lamellar-structure precipitations arranged on the decomposed austenite grain boundaries (GBs) and the flaky γ′ particles and network-structure precipitations appeared inside of the γ matrix. The extra high Vickers hardness more than 800 HV was found in the 5-h aged samples, which was different from those of the bainitic/martensitic structures in Fe–C alloys. The SAED analysis indicates the γ′ has the coherent relation with the parent γ-Fe[N] phase and the interstitial nitrogen atoms are inclined to aggregate on {1 1 0}γ′/γ planes, which also contributes to the hardness of the matrix.