THE APPLICATION
The application ranges from single components to production volumes, including a wide range of materials such as unalloyed construction and case hardened steels, quenched and tempered steel can also be treated. For many components from the automotive and hydraulic industries, engineering and
mining industries, GNPO is an alternative to salt bath nitriding with oxidation.

DISTORTION AND DIMENSIONAL CHANGES
GNPO has very little effect on distortion and dimensional changes of components. Compared to carburizing and carbonitriding, dimensional changes are significantly lower. Dimensional changes can further be positively influenced by varying the process parameter, e.g. temperature. Due to the creation of a compound layer dimensional changes occur. These changes can be pre-compensated during the prior production process.

CORROSION RESISTANCE
The final corrosion resistance of components depends on various factors: material, roughness, surface contamination and dimensions. Standard corrosion requirements of most materials (> 96h in the ASTM
B117 salt spray test) is exceeded and GNPO is an environmental friendly alternative to galvanic layers.


Equipments
The systems consist of a furnace body with modern, low heat-retaining insulation and the horizontal sliding retort with a gas circulation unit. The integrated indirect cooling system permits cooling under a protective atmosphere (inert gas). The pump stand consists of a mechanical vacuum pump with the associated measuring instruments. The switchgear is equipped with a freely-programmable process control system. The selection of this equipment permits very flexible process design. The system unit permits nitriding, nitrocarburizing and oxidizing in evacuable temper furnaces. Moreover, the furnaces can be equipped with a specially developed rapid cooling system on request. This system achieves direct cooling of the nitrogen atmosphere, radically reduces the cycle times and thus renders these chamber tempering furnaces even more economical. The load capacity can be constructed up to 1200mm(w) x 1800mm(l) x 1000mm(h).