TC plasma nitriding

Research into the active species in nitriding plasmas has indicated that, contrary to earlier assertions it is not ions bombarding the metal surface but neutral particles, contained in the plasma, that are responsible for the nitriding effect. Therefore, it is not necessary for the plasma to form directly on the parts being treated. This important finding is the basis for "through cage" (TC) or active-screen plasma nitriding, an approach claimed to offer a number of advantages over conventional processing.