Gas & Ion Nitriding

Process Documentation

Technical Overview of Nitriding Services

Nitriding is a thermochemical surface-hardening process that introduces nitrogen into the surface of a metal component. Because nitriding occurs at relatively low temperatures (typically 495°C to 565°C) below the steel's phase transformation range, it results in extremely high surface hardness with virtually zero dimensional distortion, making it ideal for precision-finished parts.

Nitriding Methodologies Offered

We provide two primary modern methods of nitriding services to meet diverse industrial engineering requirements:

• Gas Nitriding: Components are heated in a controlled anhydrous ammonia (NH3) atmosphere furnace. The ammonia dissociates at the metal surface into nitrogen and hydrogen, allowing atomic nitrogen to diffuse into the steel, forming a wear-resistant nitrided case.
• Ion (Plasma) Nitriding: An advanced, electrically driven vacuum process where nitrogen ions are accelerated by a plasma discharge onto the component surface. Plasma nitriding allows precise control over the monophase "compound layer" (white layer) growth, preventing embrittlement on critical surfaces.

Key Process Benefits

• Minimal Distortion: Excellent dimensional stability due to the sub-critical processing temperature, eliminating the need for post-treatment grinding.
• Exceptional Wear Resistance: High surface hardness (up to 70 HRC / 1000 HV depending on alloy) that resists adhesive wear, galling, and scuffing.
• Fatigue strength: Develops compressive stresses at the surface, drastically improving resistance to fatigue crack propagation.
• Corrosion Resistance: The compound zone provides a barrier against moisture and atmospheric oxidation.

Typical Component Applications

Nitriding is highly recommended for: Automotive crankshafts, valve guides, camshafts, plastic extrusion screws, feed barrels, hot stamping dies, forging punches, and gears subject to high wear.

Process Specifications Table