Process Description
The IONIT® process is a plasma nitriding and plasma nitro-carburizing process for alloyed steel, cast iron, sintered materials and special materials. It is a two-layer process comprised of a white compound layer and a diffusion zone.

The newly developed IONIT® high quality plasma
nitriding compact system for small to medium sized parts

A self-contained gas discharge within the plasma, which is important to this thermochemical treatment, takes place at comparatively low pressures (10 to 500 Pa) and a low electrical potential of several hundred volts (300 to 800 V) between the anode and the cathode (the components which are to be treated). A glow fog forms in the area of the discharge within a defined distance from the surface of the substrate. The voltage drop that takes place in this region gives rise to a significant transfer of kinetic energy to the ions and neutral particles present. The impact of these particles results in the illuminating properties of the glow discharge.

Self-contained electric gas discharge at low pressures

Diffusion occurs at component temperatures between 350 – 600 °C (660 – 1110 °F). The resulting surface characteristics, such as hardness, thickness of the white layer and diffusion zone are dependent on the material used and the process parameters, such as process temperature, time and gas composition. Typically, the thickness of the white layer is upwards of 20 µm (0.0008 in.) and the diffusion zone is approximately up to 0.8 mm (0.03 in.) thick, with a resulting surface hardness of approximately 350 – 1200 H_V1.

Multi-phase layers based on nitrogen/carbon diffusion

Features of the IONIT® Process:
• Highly controlled process with very predictable results
• Ion nitriding / nitro-carburizing of all grades of steel, cast iron and sintered materials as well as special metals
• Reproducible nitriding structure
• White layer nearly fully dense
• Depassivation of high-alloy steels
• Environment-friendly
• Tailor-made process technology
• High dimensional accuracy
• Low increase in surface roughness (Ra = 0.1 to 0.3 µm)
• Dimensional distortion is minimized (2-6 µm)
• No expensive mechanical rework
• Cold-straightening is possible
• Repair welding is possible
• Masking is possible