What is Plasma Ion Nitriding?
Plasma ion nitriding is an industrial surface hardening treatment for iron-based materials. It is one of the most technically advanced nitriding processes and offers many advantages compared with traditional salt bath and gas nitriding.
A plasma nitrided part is usually ready for use directly after treatment, requiring no machining, polishing, or other post-nitriding finishing operations. The process is environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and causes little or no distortion.
Control the Nitrided Surface
The process permits close control of the nitrided surface, allowing treatment with a controlled compound (white layer) formation.
A wide range of process control and optimization make it possible to achieve stringent application requirements. Nitriding case depth, surface hardness, and compound layer thickness can be precisely controlled.
How It Works
Vacuum & Heating
Parts are placed in a vacuum vessel and heated in an atmosphere of specialty process gases.
Ionization
High voltage is applied between the workpieces and furnace wall. As the process gases ionize, a glow discharge (“purple glow”) forms around the surface of the parts.
Ion Bombardment
High voltage ionizes the process gas, creating positively charged ions that accelerate toward and bombard the workpiece surface. This activates the surface and allows nitrogen to diffuse into the material, where it reacts with iron and alloying elements to form nitrides.
Nitriding
Over time, nitrogen diffuses into the material, forming hard nitrides and producing a smooth, hard, and dimensionally stable surface.
Pulse Control
JGS uses a MICROPULS® power supply to precisely control heat through rapid on-off voltage transitions, or pulse ionization.
Repeatable Recipes
Voltage, gas mixture, pulse frequency, temperature, and time can be combined into custom process recipes and repeated for consistent results.
Benefits of Plasma Ion Nitriding
Extended Part Life
Improves component and tooling service life.
Selective Hardening
Allows specific surfaces to be treated using reusable masking.
Fatigue Strength
Improves performance, endurance, and fatigue strength.
Improved Lubricity
Enhances surface lubricity and sliding characteristics.
Wear Resistance
Produces a dense, hard, nonporous compound zone.
Corrosion Resistance
Improves resistance to corrosion and surface deterioration.
Minimal Distortion
Provides zero to minimal growth and dimensional distortion.
No Post-Machining
Parts generally require no additional mechanical finishing.
Process Control
Computer-controlled processing provides reproducible results.
Controlled White Layer
Compound zone thickness and phase can be precisely controlled.
Cleaner Surfaces
Produces an improved surface finish compared with traditional methods.
Environmentally Friendly
Uses no toxic salts, ammonia, or other toxic process gases.
Typical Applications for Plasma Ion Nitriding
Enhance Fatigue Strength and Save Money
Increased compressive strength at the part surface can substantially improve fatigue life, depending on the material and component design. Plasma ion nitriding provides this improvement with minimal distortion compared with many other surface treatments.
Improve Corrosion Resistance
The plasma ion nitriding case hardening process can create a controlled compound zone, or white layer, that improves resistance to corrosion and rust. This nitrogen-enriched surface layer helps protect treated parts from environmental exposure while maintaining the advantages of the nitrided surface.
Improve the Performance of Your Parts
Contact JGS Nitriding to discuss your application and learn how plasma ion nitriding can improve hardness, wear resistance, fatigue strength, and service life.