Benefits of Plasma Ion Nitriding
- Extends part/tool life
- Selective hardening process
- Reusable masking (versus coatings or other surface treatments)
- Adds performance, fatigue strength and endurance
- Enhances surface lubricity
- Reduces erosion
- Increases liquid material flow in molds and dies
- Improves corrosion resistance
- No post-process machining required
- Improves wear resistance
- Zero to minimal growth/distortion
- Precise and versatile
- Environmentally friendly process (i.e. free of toxic salts, ammonia and any other toxic gases)
- Phase controllable compound zone (or white layer)
- Less distortions than gas nitriding because plasma nitriding is performed at a lower temperature and under a vacuum.
- Higher surface, case, and core hardness than gas nitriding.
- Excellent wear resistance: the plasma ion nitriding process produces a compound zone that is dense, nonporous, very hard but not brittle, and has a low coefficient of friction.
- Reproducible results and better control compared to gas nitriding: the process of plasma nitriding is fully automated and computer controlled.
- Great surface finish: no additional mechanical treatments are necessary.
- Easy masking: surfaces requiring selective treatment are easily masked with reusable mechanical masking devices that are 100% effective.
- Excellent hygiene and working conditions: the process is non-toxic and abides by all modern environmental control standards.
- Low to high alloyed steels and stainless
- It produces a compact, dense and more "ductile" compound layers than other nitriding processes
- Improved surface finish and much cleaner surfaces as compared to salt bath and gas nitriding
- Possibility of re-oxidization (post nitriding corrosion protection).
- Components and tools with plasma nitrided surface have an enhanced resistance to wear and crack formation, improved frictional, and sliding properties and higher fatigue strength values.