Some aspects of the nitriding process of parts in machine construction

Abstract

Nitriding is the most common and effective surface hardening method. Such chemical-thermal treatment is capable of increasing surface hardness, contact endurance, wear and seizure resistance, as well as heat resistance and corrosion resistance of a wide range of machine parts. This process of surface hardening has found its application in many branches of modern mechanical engineering. The operational requirements for the parts led to the need to replace high-temperature methods of chemical-thermal treatment (carburizing, high-temperature nitrocarburizing, etc.) for hardening processes at lower temperatures (500-650° C), namely nitriding. This replacement was facilitated by the latest technological developments in the field of various nitriding methods. The scientific developments obtained to date make it possible to gradually eliminate such disadvantages of nitriding as a significant duration of the process, increased fragility of the surface layer, insufficient values of contact endurance, and labor intensity of the process.