Plasma Nitriding is a surface-hardening heat treatment that introduces nitrogen atoms into the surface of steel to form nitrides. The purpose of nitriding is to increase the surface hardness of the steel and improve its wear and corrosion resistance properties.

All Processes carried out at 1,000° F. As can be seen from the diagram, a typical gas mixture of 30% nitrogen+70% hydrogen is used and is easily controlled in the plasma-nitriding process. The process has produced a compound zone of less than 13 µm thick.

Aluminum, chromium, molybdenum, titanium, tungsten, and vanadium easily combine with nitrogen at high temperatures to form nitrides of the respective metals. Low-carbon alloys of steel containing these metals are typically good candidates for nitriding.