Chemical activation of self-passivating metals

1. A process for treating a metal workpiece made from a self-passivating metal comprising a nickel-based alloy and having one or more surface regions comprising a Beilby layer, the process comprising:

heating a non-polymeric, halogen-free N/C/H compound to a processing temperature below a temperature at which nitride and/or carbide precipitates form to produce vapors, wherein the non-polymeric, halogen-free N/C/H compound:

(a) comprises at least one of melamine; aminobenzimidazole; adenine; benzimidazole; guanidine; cyanamide; dicyandiamide; 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine; 6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine; 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine; 4-(aminomethyl)pyridine; 2-amino-6-methylpyridine; 1,10-phenanthroline; 2,2′-bipyridine; (2-(pyridyl)benzimidazole); 4-methylbenzeneamine; 2-methylaniline; 3-methylaniline; 2-aminobiphenyl; 3-aminobiphenyl; 4-aminobiphenyl; 1-naphthylamine; 2-naphthylamine; 2-aminoimidazole; 5-aminoimidazole-4-carbonitrile; 4,4′-methylene-bis(2-methylaniline); benzidine; 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane; 1,5-diaminonaphthalene; 1,8-diaminonaphthalene; 2,3-diaminonaphthalene; hexamethylenetetramine; and ethylene diamine,

(b) is solid or liquid at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure, and

(c) has a molecular weight of ≤5,000 Daltons, and

exposing the workpiece to the vapors.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the nickel-based alloy comprises at least one of the following alloys designated via unified numbering system (UNS): UNS N06600, UNS N06625, UNS N08825, UNS N06022, UNS N10276, UNS N08020, and UNS N07718.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the processing temperature is ≤475° C.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the non-polymeric N/C/H compound has a molecular weight of ≤500 Daltons.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:

the non-polymeric N/C/H compound contains 5-50 C+N atoms;

the non-polymeric N/C/H compound contains 6-30 C+N atoms, alternating C═N bonds and one or more primary amine groups; and

the non-polymeric N/C/H compound is an aromatic amine containing 6-30 C+N atoms.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the non-polymeric N/C/H compound contains only C, N and H atoms.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the self-passivating metal comprises titanium.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the self-passivating metal comprises at least 10 wt. % Cr.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the self-passivating metal comprises at least one of iron, cobalt, and manganese.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece is exposed to atmospheric oxygen at least one of prior to hardening and after exposure to the vapors.

11. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

subjecting the workpiece to at least one of:

low temperature carburizing,

low temperature nitriding, and

low temperature carbonitriding

to form a hardened surface layer on a workpiece surface without nitride or carbide precipitates by contacting the workpiece with a gas different from said vapors, said gas containing at least one of:

a compound capable of decomposing to yield nitrogen atoms for nitriding,

a compound capable of decomposing to yield carbon atoms for carburizing, and

a compound capable of decomposing to yield both nitrogen atoms and carbon atoms for carbonitriding.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein the workpiece is contacted with the additional gas only after the workpiece has been exposed to the non-polymeric, halogen-free N/C/H compound.

13. The process of claim 11 , further comprising exposing the workpiece to oxygen after the workpiece has been exposed to the non-polymeric, halogen-free N/C/H compound.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein:

exposing the workpiece to the non-polymeric, halogen-free N/C/H compound is carried out in a depassivation furnace,

low temperature carburizing, nitriding, and/or carbonitriding is accomplished in a thermal processing furnace, and

the workpiece is exposed to oxygen while being transferred between the depassivation furnace and the thermal processing furnace.

15. A workpiece treated according to the process of claim 1 .

16. A process for treating a workpiece, wherein:

the workpiece:

is a corrosion-resistant, self-passivating metal comprising a nickel-based alloy;

has one or more surface regions with a Beilby layer,

has a protective coating of at least one of chromium oxide or titanium oxide; and

the process comprises:

heating a non-polymeric, halogen-free N/C/H compound to a processing temperature high enough to convert the non-polymeric, halogen-free N/C/H compound to vapors, less than 500° C., and below a temperature at which nitride and/or carbide precipitates form, wherein the non-polymeric, halogen-free N/C/H compound:

(a) comprises at least one of melamine; aminobenzimidazole; adenine; benzimidazole; guanidine; cyanamide; dicyandiamide; 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine; 6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine; 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine; 4-(aminomethyl)pyridine; 2-amino-6-methylpyridine; 1,10-phenanthroline; 2,2′-bipyridine; (2-(pyridyl)benzimidazole); 4-methylbenzeneamine; 2-methylaniline; 3-methylaniline; 2-aminobiphenyl; 3-aminobiphenyl; 4-aminobiphenyl; 1-naphthylamine; 2-naphthylamine; 2-aminoimidazole; 5-aminoimidazole-4-carbonitrile; 4,4′-methylene-bis(2-methylaniline); benzidine; 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane; 1,5-diaminonaphthalene; 1,8-diaminonaphthalene; 2,3-diaminonaphthalene; hexamethylenetetramine; and ethylene diamine,

(b) is solid or liquid at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure, and

(c) has a molecular weight of ≤5,000 Daltons,

contacting the workpiece with the vapors to:

depassivate the workpiece; and

simultaneously surface harden the workpiece by causing at least one of carbon and nitrogen atoms to diffuse into the surface of the workpiece without formation of carbide and nitride precipitates.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the nickel-based alloy comprises at least one of the following alloys designated via unified numbering system (UNS): UNS N06600, UNS N06625, UNS N08825, UNS N06022, UNS N10276, UNS N08020, and UNS N07718.

18. The process of claim 16 , wherein the self-passivating metal comprises titanium.

19. The process of claim 16 , wherein the self-passivating metal comprises at least 10 wt. % Cr.

20. The process of claim 16 , wherein at least one of:

the self-passivating metal comprises at least one of iron, cobalt, and manganese; and

the workpiece is exposed to atmospheric oxygen at least one of prior to hardening and after exposure to the vapors.