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Aalberts Surface Technologies (Heat) is part of Aalberts N.V. a global engineering company providing mission critical technologies from more than 150 locations in 30 countries.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The home of hard surfaces
 
 
 
Furnace Plasma Nitriding
Plasma (Ion) Nitriding


Plasma Nitriding or Ion Nitriding is a significant development of the original Nitriding process.

Plasma technology is primarily for stainless steel and other low alloy steels which are not suitable for a “standard” heat treatment processes. The process uses a Plasma discharge of Hydrogen and Nitrogen gases both to heat the steel surfaces and to supply Nitrogen ions for Nitriding. Plasma Nitriding is an established and successful process particularly important for precision machined parts.

This process can be used for a wide variety of applications. Commercially most common components are engine camshafts, engine crankshafts, and gears.
Wide variety of steel grades, including austenitic stainless, maraging and precipitation hardening.

The crucial benefits
Components or parts are usually nitrided to make wear resistance. The advantages of Plasma/ Ion Nitriding includes:
  • The white compound layer can be minimised down to appropriate levels for the customer requirements.
  • Often used for finished parts – as no further machining is typically needed.
  • The diffused layer will be only on the exposed parts (line of sight) of the component – (usually by mechanical masking).
  • The opportunity to eliminate copper plate masking through use of simple mechanical masks.
  • Mechanical masking is the best option for large batch components.
  • Wear resistance created by a diffused hard layer.
  • The ability of to avoid dimensional change and deliver a uniform case on complex geometries.
  • Improved fatigue properties: the process induces compressive stress, which will improve fatigue strength.
  • No reduction in the core hardness of the base metal or alloy of the component.
  • Completed on near finished components – i.e. requiring very minor (or zero) lapping, polishing or grinding.
  • The potential for reducing scrap through precisely repeatable cycles.
  • The opportunity to eliminate environmental pollution because there is no use of toxic salt or toxic gases.
 
 
 
Lab Metallography - polishing and grinding for inspection

Nitriding from specialist metallurgists


With a wide variety of furnaces available, we are capable of handling a comprehensive range of product and batch size, from small series through to 10 Tonnes in weight, and sizes up to 4.2m long and up to 1.6m diameter.
Our staff are expert in advising the characteristics achievable from all material types, from low alloy steels to high quality grade stainless steels and Inconel alloys.