Those in the metal production industry are all too familiar with nitriding. This is the process by which metal is heat treated to create a hardened surface. Sometimes, this process is also referred to as case hardening. Underneath it all, the interior portion of the metal remains soft and pliable. This metal treatment is versatility and can be applied to a lot of different types of metal. See how nitriding works and why it is so beneficial.
About the Process as a Whole
There is a detailed scientific process behind nitriding. First, nitrogen is diffused into the base steel. This happens at a lower temperature than other metal treatments. Next, the surface is hardened. This is done without any sort of quenching. In most cases, the process will include using gaseous ammonia to heat up the metal. Alternatively, some metal workers use a plasma process where steel is placed in a vacuum and bombarded with nitrogen ions.
Why You Might Need Surface Hardening
Initially, you may be wondering why you need any metallurgy work at all. Surface hardening is a very common process to create machine components. Most gears and bearings receive some sort of surface hardening treatment. This makes the components able to withstand increased amounts of stress and friction. If you have parts that can benefit from these properties, you may need to consider a surface hardening treatment.
Putting It All Together
As you can see, there are some benefits to using this metal treatment process. Metal heat treating is actually a necessity for some industries. When in doubt, speak to a heat treatment company for an expert recommendation.
