GLOW DISCHARGE ASSISTED NITRIDING AND NITROCARBURIZING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY - EXAMPLES OF PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

摘要

Glow discharge assisted nitriding and nitrocarburizing are widely used in industry to improve the performance properties of machine parts and tool components made of various steel grades, cast iron, titanium alloys, aluminum, and, recently, nickel alloys. The processes are ecologically benign and economically sound, and they compete successfully with conventional treatments used in the automotive industry, such as induction hardening, chrome plating and thermal spray. This many advantages of glow discharge nitriding and nitrocarburizing, include the possibility of precise control of microstructure, phase composition, and chemical composition of the diffusion layers produced, the possibility of treating complex geometry, low consumption of electrical energy and reactive gases, elimination of the necessity for labor intensive post treatment finishing operations, and the potential for low temperatures treatment from as low as 400°C. The paper presents examples of practical application of glow discharge assisted nitriding and nitrocarburizing processes in the automotive industry.