As described in Wikipedia’s article “Nitriding,” nitriding is a heat treating process utilized by industries to infuse nitrogen into a metal’s surface, resulting in a hardened layer. This technique, commonly employed on low-alloy steels, extends to metals like titanium, aluminum, and molybdenum.

Nitriding finds its application across various components, including gears, crankshafts, camshafts, and more. Explores three primary nitriding methods: gas nitriding, salt bath nitriding, and plasma nitriding.

Gas nitriding involves ammonia as the nitrogen-rich donor, facilitating precise control over chemical potential and large batch processing capabilities. Salt bath nitriding, though quick and simple, has waned due to environmental concerns regarding toxic salts. Plasma nitriding, characterized by ionized gas state reactivity, allows close control over microstructure, enhancing mechanical properties and surface hardness.

Plasma nitriding, notably, requires no post-treatment machining, offering user-friendliness and energy efficiency. Originating from the inventive mind of Bernhardt Berghaus, this process has evolved to augment metal performance globally.

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