Plasma Nitriding Mechanisms of Low-Density Sintered Metal Products

Abstract The mechanism of plasma nitriding include the formation of various active species generating nitrogen atoms reacting with the metal. Which species prevail in supplying nitrogen depends on nitriding conditions as well as the nature of the treated metal. Plasma nitriding of low-density powder metal (PM) products results in a formation of the layers whose thicknesses may depend on the gas pressure used for the process. Higher pressure can cause locally deeper penetration of the surface by active nitrogen species formed from ammonia compounds generated by the plasma. While a low processing pressure reduces this effect significantly. The formation mechanism of a locally thicker layer relies on the presence of open porosities in the surface as they can be penetrated by the ammonia species generated by the plasma. The same porosities cannot be penetrated by the ions of nitrogen formed at the same time since their mean free life is much shorter than that of ammonia species. ◼