Analysis and technology comparison of plasma and gas nitriding using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

摘要

The legal framework and a stronger awareness of companies for environmental and energy issues form the basis for actions that increase resource efficiency through ecological optimization. In order to measure the potential environmental effects and to assess those systematically, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the preferable tools to use. In this study Life Cycle Assessment has been used to compare the two nitriding technologies gas and plasma nitriding. The aim of this survey was to estimate the ecological impact and to show optimization potential for both processes. To compare these processes a reference component with the functional unit "Nitration Mass" has been used. For the impact assessment the CML method and the cumulated energy demand have been applied. The two processes have been compared with a recognized reference system - the utilization phase of cars - to verify the ecological impact.