Nitriding by the Deganit procedure is best suited for the so-called nitriding steels (a group of steels designed for improvement, containing over cca 0.35% C and alloy elements that create nitride, Cr, Al, Mo, V). In addition, this short-nitriding process is applied to unalloyed steels (low- and medium-carbon steels), low-alloyed steels for cementation, low- and medium-alloyed steels for improvement, low- and medium-alloyed tool steels, tool steels for hot-working, fast-cutting steels and austenitic stainless steels. In addition to these, low- and medium-alloyed steels and components made of sintered iron powder may also be nitrated.

Nitrided layer consists of two parts: the "white zone" on the surface (providing abrasion resistance) and the "diffusion zone" (increasing fatigue strength of steel and providing resistance to pressure).

Nitriding is applied when objects made of ferrous materials are required to achieve at least one of the following properties:

  • High wear resistance;
  • Increased fatigue strength at varying dynamic loads (primarily from bending and torsion);
  • High surface hardness and a certain layer thickness, in order to increase resistance to high local pressure and shock;
  • High surface hardness and wear resistance at elevated temperatures.

Nitriding does not require any subsequent thermal treatment. Nitrided surfaces are clean and do not require additional machining. Grinding to max 0.05mm may be performed, in order to remove the layer of brittle “white zone” on the surface of the object). Nitriding is applied to parts which are complex in shape, so that possible deformation is avoided.

Nitriding process takes place in shaft furnaces (workspace dimensions are 900 x 2000 mm and maximum batch weight up to 1000kg).