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Hello, I am a product engineer in Auto ancillary
manufacturing unit. I would like to know the process of
Plasma Nitriding, which is said to give wear resistance. Is
there any difference between salt bath nitriding and plasma
nitriding?
Thanks,
SENTHILKUMAR
- CHENNAI, TAMILNADU, INDIA
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There is a very major difference between salt bath
nitriding and plasma nitriding. In salt bath nitriding, the
component(s) are placed in a molten salt bath and the entire
component it heated to get a hard nitride layer on the
surface. In plasma nitriding the nitride ion is bombarded on
the component at much lower temperature to achieve the same
end. The component is not heated to the same extent. The
hardening is more uniform and the depth can be controlled to
much better accuracies. The equipment is exponentially
expensive and since the coating is done in a vacuum chamber,
you cannot do it on all components economically. Typically,
this is done by job coaters only since a single industrial
entity is not able to justify the investment for in-house
production.
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Hi Gurvin,
As a person intimately associated with development of plasma
nitriding process and its varied applications for the past
20 years, I must beg to differ.
More and more companies are looking at having their own
plasma nitriding systems to cut down on time wasted in
sending, processing, receiving their tools, toolings and
components. It is likely that this trend may see ten to
twelve nitriders installed in-house by leading companies
before we ring out this year...
It is heartening to see many drawings now having " to be
plasma nitrided" instructions stamped on them. A huge wave
of adoption seems to have got activated by the auto
ancillary industries.
Tks for explaining the process so well in brief.
Cheers!
Max Babi
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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