gas nitriding
gas nitriding: nitriding of steel
Gas nitriding is a low temperature furnace treatment with an atmosphere of Ammonia. The nitriding process is an established and successful means of generating a hard case on a component. The aim of the process is to protect the material from wear. In addition, the strength of the material can be improved in this way.
gas nitriding process
Nitriding is another form of surface hardening of steels. It is a thermochemical process in a nitrogen-releasing environment. In this atmosphere the material is heated to a temperature between 475 and 550°C. The material is then held at this temperature for a certain time. This time can vary from a few minutes up to 120 hours. Eventually, the material is cooled down.
The desired hardness is created by the transfer of nitrides into the metal mesh. Different degrees of hardness can be achieved depending on the element used.
benefits & characteristics of the nitriding process
- Low temperature between 475 °C to 550°
- Flexibly applied – process duration modified according to the specification of the required final component properties.
- Environmentally friendly compared to serious alternatives (e.g. chrome plating).
- Clean for the component –g. leaving no heavy surface contaminant or residue.
suitable metals for the nitriding process
The process is usually performed on fully finished components which, in many instances, require no additional operations prior to assembly.
Usually, nitriding is only used on alloy steel. These have a carbon content of 0.3 to 0.4%. It is possible to nitride other materials such as stainless steel, titanium and nickel alloys, however the preferred nitriding route for those materials is plasma nitriding.
The resulting layer is relatively thin, so that changes in shape cannot be changed afterwards by grinding. However, the changes in shape during nitriding are comparatively very small. Stress relieving should be carried out beforehand. In this way, it can be achieved that the material is free from stresses, which in turn reduces the risk of shape changes.
Some of the components that are suitable for gas nitriding are:
Shafts and axles: Gas nitriding is often used for surface hardening of shafts and axles, especially those that have to withstand high loads, such as drive loads, such as drive shafts in the automotive industry.
Gears: Gears are often gas nitrided to improve their wear resistance and durability. This applies in particular to gears in transmissions that are subjected to high loads and friction.
Tool steels: Tools such as molds, dies and cutting tools can be given increased hardness and wear resistance by gas nitriding. This extends their service life and improves the quality of the machined workpieces.
Crankshafts: Crankshafts in internal combustion engines are often gas-nitrided to increase their surface hardness and thus improve the service life of the engine.
Piston rods: Gas nitriding is also used for piston rods in order to increase their surface hardness and reduce wear.
application of gas nitriding in various industries
Gas nitriding is proving to be extremely beneficial in various industries. In the automotive industry, it optimizes the wear resistance of drive shafts, transmission components and crankshafts, resulting in a noticeably longer service life of the components. Likewise, in the tooling industry, gas nitriding enables the production of extremely robust and abrasion-resistant tools such as molds, dies and cutting tools. It is also used in the aerospace industry to increase the surface hardness of components such as piston rods and improve their performance under extreme conditions. Gas nitriding gives components in a wide range of applications significantly increased performance, reliability and service life.
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frequently asked questions – gas nitriding
What is gas nitriding?
A thermochemical heat treatment process to improve surface quality.
Which steels are suitable for gas nitriding?
So-called nitriding steels with a carbon content between 0.3 and 0.4% and certain proportions of the alloying elements aluminum and chromium.
Are there alternative methods for surface hardening steel?
Case hardening.
Are there limitations to gas nitriding?
As a rule, higher alloy steels cannot be gas-nitrided, but must be plasma-nitrided. In addition, surface hardening up to a maximum of 0.8 mm can be achieved. In classical case hardening, up to 10 mm is possible.
How long does the gas nitriding process take?
From 4 to 100 hours, depending on material and desired nitriding depth.
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