Use of an Electrolytic Plasma to Intensify the Nitriding Process.

Mathematical planning methods are used to optimize electrolyte compositions for nitriding low and medium carbon steels with 9% NH//4Cl and 15% NH//4NO//3 to obtain maximum thickness of the gamma prime -phase and with 11% NH//4Cl and 11% NH//4NO//3 to obtain the epsilon -phase. It is shown that within 10 minutes a nitride zone thickness of 45 mu can be obtained at 700 degree C, while an internal nitriding zone depth of 0. 3 mm can be obtained at 570 degree C on commercial iron.