Improvement of forging processes using high pressure nitriding and ecological lubrication

Nitriding is one of the most used techniques to enhance the life in service of forming tools. In this study high pressure gas nitriding technology has been applied in warm and cold forming tools. 

The utilization of high pressure enhances the nitriding effect of the NH₃ atmosphere and several advantages arise comparing with conventional techniques. Besides of this, in the framework of this project, several ecological lubricants have been developed to be used in both forming applications and the interaction of these products with the nitrurated surfaces has been study. Specifically, it was studied the introduction of a vegetable oil with graphite for warm forging and several phosphor lubricating oils to be applied in pieces for a cold forming transformation. In a first stage this analysis was carried out in a laboratory by means of tribological tests and lately in field tests.