Surface Hardening

Nitriding
Nararyya Zufar El Azmi
Rosmawati Siregar
Introduction
Introduction
• It was first used at the end of 1920s
• It is does not required phase change from ferrite to austenite becaue
it is a ferritic thermochemical treatment
• Usually involves the introduction of atomic nitrogen into ferrite phase
at 500-590 oC
• It has no mollecular size change and no dimensional change. Only
slight growth due to volumetric change of the steel surface caused by
the nitrogen diffusion
Properties
• High surface Hardness dan wear strength yang tinggi
• High resistance to tempering dan hardness at high temperature
• High fatigue Strength yang tinggi and low sensitivity fatigue notch
• Improvisation of corrosion resistance for non-stainless steel
• High dimension stabillization
Reaction
• At nitriding temperature (500-
590 oC), nitrogen akan diffuse to
iron, but only at 0,1%
concentration
• When nitrogen exceeds, γ
(gamma) nitrida will forms, with
the formula Fe4N
• When nitrogen concentration
more than 6%, γ nitrida will
transform to ε nitrida
• Observation with metallurgical
microscope, ε and γ will be seen
at a layer that called “white
layer”
Methods of Nitriding
• Gas Nitriding with Ammonia
• Gas Nitriding with Ammonia and Nitrogen or Hidrogen
• Gas Nitriding with Ammonia and Hidrokarbon
• Glow Discharge Nitriding or Ionitriding
• Salt Bath Nitriding
• Powder Nitriding
Methods of Nitriding
• Gas Nitriding with Ammonia
2NH3  2NFe + 3H2

• Gas Nitriding with Ammonia and

Nitrogen or Hidrogen
Minkevic dan Sorokin recommended
mixture of 20% ammonia and 80%
nitrogen.
Low Ammonia will gives low nitrogen
activity. Similar result can be achieved
by increasing the degree of dissociation
with ammonia only or by adding
hidrogen
Gas Nitriding with Ammonia and
Hidrokarbon
When gas nitriding with ammonia,
hydrocarbon can be added in the
form of pure propane or endogas
The carbon diffuse to the steel,
form ε carbonitride that illustrated
here (biasanya terjadi pada 570
oC)

The composition and micro

hardness of the surface, contains
50% ammonia and 50% propane
at 580 oC for 4h
Glow-Discharge Nitriding
(Ionitriding)
It was patented by Berghaus at 1930s
Procedure : Nitriding is carried out in dillute ammonia as or mixture of
hydrogen and nitrogen
Hydrocarbon can be added to the gas mixture, and carbonitride is
formed in the white layer
This method must be regarded as the technically most advanced
process since it enables to development and growth of the nitride layer
to be kept under closest control
Salt Bath Nitriding
Salt mixture initally contained 60-70%
by weight NaC N and 30-40% by
weight KCN
With improvisation by employing a
titanium crucible, it can avoid
decomposition of the salt. This
method known as Tufftride
Another variaton is called Sulfinuz
Treatment. In this treatment, Sulphur
is present and enhances the excellent
anti-friction properties of nitride layer
Quench in warm water also will get
the best surface. It is because rapid
cooling will increase fatigue strength,
one of the characteristics of nitriding
Powder Nitriding
• The parts to be treated are packed into the boxes the same way pack
carburizing
• 15% by weight energizer is first placed on the bottom of the box. The
parts must not to come into contact with the energizer
• More nitriding power added. The box then closed as tightly as
possible and placed in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 520-570
o
C
Applications
• Manufacture of Aircraft
• Bearing
• Automotic Components
• Textile Machinery
• Turbine Generation Systems
• Gear Wheels
• Moulds
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
• The surface is hard and tough,
combined with good wear
resistance.
• The fatigue strength is increased
during nitriding by 30 to 100%
• The corrosion resistance is
somewhat higher and with nitriding
followed by oxidation much higher
• The resistance against abrasive and
adhesive wear is good.
Disadvantages
• Toughness and impact resistance
decrease
• Asymmetric products could
buckle due to unequal cooling
effects
• Maximum dimensions are
determined by the furnace
dimensions
• Blind holes cannot be treated
during plasma - nitriding
Thank You