Thermo-chemical process to increase wear and corrosion resistance and endurance strength of workpieces and/or components.

The casting and/or edge layer of the parts is recharged with nitrogen (maybe also with H) and builds a hard, resistant compound with the casting material. The most important treatment materials are gas, plasma and salt baths so that a distinction can be made between gas, bath and plasma nitration.

The relevant treatment temperatures range between 350 and 500 °C. The resulting surface layer phase consists of FexN with a thickness of < 50 μm und einer Oberflächenhärte von 405 bis 1200 HV 0,2.

Additional references:
Torch hardening
Case hardening
Electron beam hardening
Flame hardening
Induction hardening
Laserhärtung
Immersion hardening
Hot-bath hardening