About Plasma Nitriding

Let's zoom in on the surface of metal parts during plasma nitriding. What goes on during the process? 

The bombardment of nitrogen ions, along with a hydrogen reduction action, cleans and preps the surface of the part. This process is known as 'sputtering'.

Next, nitrogen ions begin to diffuse into the surface, reacting with the material's alloying elements, primarily forming a layer of iron nitride (FeN) along with those elements.

This iron nitride layer transforms, creating a surface layer akin to a ceramic coat with a low coefficient of friction, increased corrosion resistance, and high hardness.