Lowtemperaturecompositechromizingisaprocesscomposedofaplainion-carbonitridingorion-nitridingat550～580℃,followedbyalow-temperaturechromizinginasalt-bathof590℃.ThemicrostructureandpropertiesofthelowtemperaturecompositechromizedlayeronH13toolsteelwereinvestigatedusingmetallography,X-raydiffraction,microanalysis,hardnessandweartests.Itwasfoundthatthislowtemperatureprocesswasthermodynamicallyandkineticallypossible,andthecompositechromizedlayeronH13steel,withathicknessof3～6μm,consistedofthreesub-layers(bands),viz.theouterCr-richone,theintermediate(black)one,andtheinner,originalwhitelayer.Afterchromizing,theformerdiffusionlayerwasthickened.TheresultsofX-raydiffractionshowedthatthecompositechromizedlayercontainedsuchnitridesandcarbidesofchromiumasCrN,Cr2N,(Cr,Fe)23C6,and(Cr,Fe)7C3,aswellasplainα-(Fe,Cr).Ahighsurfacemicrohardnessof1450～1550HV0.025,whichismuchhigherthanthatobtainedbytheconventionalioncarbonitridingandionnitriding,wasobtained.Inaddition,anexcellentwearresistancewasgainedonthecompositechromizedlayer.
