Abstract
A low temperature plasma carburising process has recently been developed to engineer the surfaces of austenitic stainless steels to achieve combined improvements in wear and corrosion resistance. The present paper discusses the structural characteristics of the carburised layers produced on AISI type 316 steel at temperatures between 400 and 600°C. It was found that at low temperatures (7 C3 ) occurred when the carburising temperature was relatively high (for example 550 and 600°C). In addition, stress induced martensite was found, particularly in the carburised layers produced at relatively high temperatures.