Why nitride or nitrocarburise?

It’s mainly to do with wear. In general terms the harder a pie

less it wears. So if we are producing a component like a gear
as hard as possible so that it does not wear out. Unfortunate
hardness has other consequences – one of those is loss o
steel tends to be brittle. So, if we made our gear out of hard
steel, then as soon as it was shocked – by changing gear fo

Nitriding and nitrocarburising

gear teeth would fracture and fall off. The solution to th
produce a hard wear resisting outside and a tough shock resis

Carburising is the commonest way of doing this; however, b

nitrocarburising offer some advantages. Because of the
temperature and the elimination of the need to quench the pa
distortion. The layer produced by nitriding is harder that that f
but a typical treatment is sixty hours for nitriding as against fou
Both nitriding and nitrocarburising are low temperature treatments that produce thin, hard layers on
In addition to wear resistance, nitrocarburising provides corr
the surface of steel to improve its wear resistance.
and can be treated to give an aesthetically pleasing m
(Figure 1).
Why nitride or nitrocarburise?

It’s mainly to do with wear. In general terms the harder a piece of

steel is the less it wears. So if we are producing a component like
Without the careful control of nitriding possible using th
a gear we want it to be as hard as possible so that it does not wear
nitriding equipment, a brittle layer of alpha-iron nitride is forme
out. Unfortunately, in steels, high hardness has other consequences
– one of those is loss of ductility. Hard steel tends to be brittle. So,
above the diffusion layer. This layer must be removed before
if we made our gear out of hard, wear resistant steel, then as soon
can be put into service. The formation of this layer can als
as it was shocked – by changing gear for instance – the gear teeth
would fracture and fall off. The solution to the problem is to produce
using plasma nitriding. In this process ordinary nitrogen i
a hard wear resisting outside and a tough shock resisting core.
electric current making it possible for the nitrogen to diffus
Carburising is the commonest way of doing this; however, both
nitriding and nitrocarburisingThe ionised
offer some advantages.gas
Becausearound
of the part is clearly visible in Figure 2.
the low treatment temperature and the elimination of the need to
quench the parts, there is less distortion. The layer produced by
nitriding is harder that that from carburising, but a typical treatment
is sixty hours for nitriding as against four for carburising. In addition Figure 1. Black finished nitrocarburised parts
to wear resistance, nitrocarburising provides corrosion resistance
Figure 1. Black finished nitrocarburised parts
and can be treated to give an aesthetically pleasing matt black finish
(Figure 1).

How is it done?
How is it done?

Both treatments diffuse nitrogen into the surface of the steel t

Both treatments diffuse nitrogen into the surface of the steel to form
the layer. Unfortunately under most circumstances ordinary nitrogen
Unfortunately under most circumstances ordinary nitrogen
is inert at the treatment temperature of between 500 and 600ºC.
Ammonia acts as a source of nascent nitrogen as it cracks on the
treatment temperature of between 500 and 600ºC. Ammonia
steel surface and the nascent nitrogen diffuses into the steel.
of nascent nitrogen as it cracks on the steel surface and the
Without the careful control of nitriding possible using the most
modern nitriding equipment,diffuses
a brittle layer ofinto the
alpha-iron steel.
nitride is
formed on the surface above the diffusion layer. This layer must
be removed before the component can be put into service. The
formation of this layer can also be avoided by using plasma nitriding.
In this process ordinary nitrogen is ionised by an electric current
making it possible for the nitrogen to diffuse into the steel. The
ionised gas around the part is clearly visible in Figure 2. Figure 2. Plasma nitriding

Figure 2. Plasma nitriding

2 Nitriding and nitrocarburising

In nitrocarburising on the other hand, an oxidant is added and an

epsilon-iron nitride layer forms above the diffusion layer. Unlike
alpha-iron nitride this layer is ductile so does not need to be
removed. In addition it has a low coefficient of friction and is very
corrosion resistant. Using Linde’s NITROFLEX® atmosphere system
for nitrocarburising means that you can accurately determine the Figure 3. Comparative wear for various types of layer
thickness and porosity of the different layers due to its ability to
create an infinite range of different atmospheres.
What types of furnaces are used?
How do the layers compare?
Most nitriding and nitrocarburising is carried out in pit furnaces. Pit
A comparative wear study of many types areof wearso called
resistant because they are usually installed with most of the
diffusion
layers under lubricated conditions – thosebelow ground level as they are loaded from the top although Figure
normally found in industry
– it was found that the various nitrocarburising treatments gave the
one installed above ground so that the whole thing can be seen.
lowest wear (Figure 3). Next came nitriding, then carburising and
finally carbonitriding. used for these processes have a metal muffle that contains the atm
and are sealed Figure 3.by a lid.
Figure 3. Comparative wear for various types of layer
Comparative wear for various types of layer
What types of furnaces are used?
What types of furnaces are used?
Most nitriding and nitrocarburising is carried out in pit furnaces. Pit
Most nitriding and nitrocarburising is carried out in pit furnaces. Pit furnace
furnaces are so called because they are usually installed with most
are so called because they are usually installed with most of the furnac
of the furnace below ground level as they are loaded from the top
below ground level as they are loaded from the top although Figure 4 show
although Figure 4 shows one installed above ground so that the
one installed above ground so that the whole thing can be seen. The one
whole thing can be seen. The ones used for these processes have a
used for these processes have a metal muffle that contains the atmospher
metal muffle that contains the atmosphere and are sealed by a lid.
and are sealed by a lid.
Some of the nitrocarburising processes can be performed in a
sealed or integral quench furnace, but care must be taken as they
are operating with a flammable atmosphere below its self ignition
temperature. Plasma nitriding is carried out in specially designed
vacuum furnaces. It is also possible to carry out nitrocarburising in a
vacuum furnace.

Figure 4. A pit furnace for nitriding and nitrocarburising

Figure 4. A pit furnace for nitriding and nitrocarburising

Some of the nitrocarburising processes can be performed in a

integral quench
Figure 4. furnace, but
A pit furnace for care must
nitriding be taken as they are operat
and nitrocarburising
flammable atmosphere below its self ignition temperature. Plasma n
Some of the nitrocarburising processes can be performed in a sealed o
carried out in specially designed vacuum furnaces. It is also possibl
integral quench furnace, but care must be taken as they are operating with
out nitrocarburising in a vacuum
flammable atmosphere below furnace.
its self ignition temperature. Plasma nitriding i
carried out in specially designed vacuum furnaces. It is also possible to carr
out nitrocarburising in a vacuum furnace.

BOC
506785/UKS/1213

Customer Service Centre, Priestley Road, Worsley, Manchester M28 2UT, United Kingdom
Tel 0800 111 333, Fax 0800 111 555, custserv@boc.com, www.BOConline.co.uk
The stripe symbol and the letters BOC are registered trade marks of The BOC Group Limited. Both BOC Limited and The BOC Group Limited are
members of The Linde Group, the parent company of which is Linde AG. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. © BOC Limited 2013