nitridaatiossa

Nitridiaatio is a heat treatment process used to harden the surface of steel. It involves diffusing nitrogen into the surface of the steel at elevated temperatures. Typically, this is achieved by heating the steel in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, often using ammonia gas. The nitrogen atoms diffuse into the iron lattice and form hard nitride compounds, primarily iron nitrides. This creates a thin, very hard surface layer while the core of the material remains relatively tough and ductile. The depth of the hardened layer is usually shallow, ranging from a few micrometers to a few millimeters, depending on the steel composition, temperature, and duration of the treatment. The process can be performed in various types of furnaces, including gas nitriding furnaces and plasma nitriding equipment. Nitridiaatio is often employed for components that require high wear resistance, good fatigue strength, and resistance to surface deformation, such as gears, camshafts, and cutting tools. The specific properties achieved can be tailored by adjusting the process parameters and the alloy composition of the steel. It is a dry process that generally does not cause significant distortion, making it suitable for precision parts.