Originally Posted by
ASH556
My 2 cents:
I work as an applications engineer for a valve company. My work is mostly in critical process applications, many of which are high pressure/high temperature steam for turbines in power plants.
In one such application, we were using 316ss with a nitride-type overlay on the seats and gate of the valve. We began to experience valve leakage (failure). What we found was not that the nitride had failed, but rather that the 316 under the nitride layer was physically compromised through heat and galling. Thus, we made the switch to a harder (though less chemical/corrosion resistant) 410 stainless.
The point being that despite nitriding, the sub-material can be affected, particularly when heat is involved.
Now, these are valves with large surface areas. Not gun barrels, so Robert may have different experience.