AISI304 stainless steel samples were treated with nitrogen ions by high frequency low voltage plasma immersion ion implantation
(HLPIII) technique. The friction and wear behaviors of the modified layers on the steel surface were examined on a pin on disc test rig. The phase composition, depth profile of N, and the wear mechanisms of the modified layers were investigated by means of X ray diffraction (XRD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As the results, HLPIII treatment substantially improves the friction and wear behaviors of
AISI304 steel and such an improvement is greatly dependent on the treatment temperature. The modified layer on the steel surface treated at 400 ℃ is
considerably thicker than that at 300 ℃. The thicker modified layer containing expanded anstenite phase in near surface area accounts for the increase in the load bearing capacity of the materials and leads to change in the friction modes. Hence the friction coefficient is considerably decreased and the wear resistance increased by a factor of 2 10 for the sample treated at 400 ℃.