Laser-produced iron nitrides seen by Mossbauer spectroscopy

Abstract

Mossbauer spectroscopy is a very powerful tool to investigate technological processes performed mainly at the surface of materials. Nitriding of metals and steel is well established in surface engineering, and gas nitriding is used most frequently. Laser nitriding, i.e. the nitrogen take-up from the ambient gas upon irradiation of a steel surface with short laser pulses, is presented in its application to iron, stainless steel and plain carbon steels. It will be demonstrated how Mossbauer spectroscopy in combination with complementary methods (Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, Resonant nuclear reaction analysis, Nanoindentation) can help to reveal basic mechanisms in these processes.