Low-temp Plasma Nitriding / Carburizing for SST

Singerizing - SST

Nitriding of Stainless Steel

On this market, many customers are looking for the qualified nitriding process for stainless steel parts. As a result of many factors, several commercial heat treaters stated their capabilities to provide this service, but usually were not satisfied by the customers in terms of uniformity, and reliability.

Nitriding of stainless steel has been supposed as niche process and curiously requested by many customers. SAMT is going to provide the qualified process to this market by our thermal processing service by either the independent or the cooperative with commercial heat treater.

The rules applying to nitriding of stainless steel or refractory alloys are no different than those for the other groups of steels, with one exception. The exception is the proprietary de-passivation stage that allows for a removal of oxides of alloying elements such as Cr, Ni and others which, if not removed, will effectively block the nitriding process. The same way they block the rust formation on the stainless steel surface.

All types of stainless steel can be nitrided. The martensitic, austenitic or PH materials are inclusive.

Low-temperature plasma carburizing for SST

Low temperature plasma nitriding / carburizing of stainless steel:

It is a new surface treatment technology for stainless steel developed on the basis of traditional plasma nitriding / carburizing. Carbon / nitrogen-containing gases are ionized in the vacuum and discharge environment inside the ion hardening furnace. Nitrogen ions / carbon ions penetrate and dissolve into the lattice structure of the stainless steel surface at low temperatures, significantly improving the hardness and wear resistance of the stainless steel surface without reducing or minimizing its corrosion resistance.

According to the different infiltrating elements, it can be divided into low temperature plasma nitriding and low temperature ion carburizing.

Advantages

Like traditional plasma nitriding, it can increase the surface hardness of stainless steel to over 1000HV. However, traditional plasma nitriding can generate chromium nitrides/carbides in the surface layer during nitriding or carburizing at higher temperatures, and the precipitation of surface chromium can lead to a decrease in the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel surface. The working temperature of low-temperature plasma nitriding / carburizing is lower, generally 350-480 ℃, which is 50-100 ℃ lower than traditional stainless steel plasma nitriding / carburizing, effectively reducing the reaction and precipitation of chromium. It can achieve excellent surface hardness and wear resistance while maintaining the original corrosion resistance.