The nitriding process begins at the surface of the part with the formation of a compound (aka white) layer, which depends to a large extent on the composition of the steel (in particular, the carbon content).

The application of ion/plasma nitriding to powder-metal (PM) products is recommended over the gas nitriding method. Ion/plasma nitriding results in surface hardening while gas nitriding causes unintended through-nitriding, making the treatment not suitable for a majority of engineering components made of PM.

Modern designing of mechanical components and tools should take under consideration their intrinsic stresses and surface condition.

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) announced the completion of the 15,000-square-foot building expansion at its corporate headquarters in Waterloo, Iowa. Three new gas nitriding units are housed in the new addition in an effort to separate the gas nitriding equipment from the ion (plasma) nitriding units. There are plans to add a fourth gas nitriding unit by the end of the year.

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) broke ground on a 15,000-square-foot expansion at its corporate headquarters in Waterloo, Iowa. The addition will allow AHT to segregate its trademark processes, UltraGlow ion nitriding/nitrocarburizing and UltraOx (gaseous ferritic nitriding/nitrocarburizing and oxidation treatments). The expansion will also include two new gaseous ferritic nitriding/nitrocarburizing units with sizes up to 13 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

This article will focus on ion/plasma nitriding and its troubleshooting. We will also discuss some general nitriding concerns.