Nitridization

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Nitridization, also known as nitriding, is a process which introduces nitrogen in the surface of a material. It is used in metallurgy for surface-hardening treatment of the steel surface.

[edit] Nitriding of steel

Introduction of nitrogen in the steel is performed at temperatures 500-550 °C (930 to 1020 °F) range. Nitriding is altering the composition of the surface like carburization does. The difference between nitriding and carburization is that in nitridizing nitrogen enters the ferrite phase, and that the nitridization process does not involve heating into the austenite phase field, thus eliminating the need to quench part. As a result it provides excellent dimensional control.