Increases wear resistance, surface hardness and fatigue by generation of a hard layer at the outer surface.

Plasma nitriding works by diffusing nitrogen into the surface of a steel component in a vacuum furnace. The nitrogen combines with alloying elements (ie chrome, molybdenum) in the steel to form a hard nitride layer (ie chrome nitride, molybdenum nitride). Plasma nitriding is successfully carried out at a lower temperature and at a greater rate than gas nitriding, enabling components to be treated without the loss of base hardness and without distortion.