Improvement and ınvestigation of process parameters of thin film ceramic paint coating after phosphating surface treatment of nitrocarburized 42CrMo4 steel

This study aims to investigate the effects of multi-stage surface engineering processes performed on 42CrMo4 steel, which is widely used in defense industry applications. In this context, 42CrMo4 steel was selected as the sample material, and surface preparation processes such as grinding, vibratory polishing, and automated sandblasting were applied. Subsequently, nitrocarburization in a salt environment, manganese phosphating, and thin-film ceramic (Cerakote) coating were performed. Following all surface modifications, microstructural analyses of the samples were performed using optical metal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microhardness measurements. Furthermore, parameters such as compound layer thickness, diffusion depth, and surface roughness were comparatively evaluated. This study demonstrates the synergistic effects of the integration of special processes on material performance and constitutes an important reference for advanced engineering applications, especially in the defense industry.