Surface engineering since 1992
Patt develops alloy- and geometry-specific plasma nitriding recipes by controlling temperature, gas chemistry, pressure, pulse parameters and bias voltage.
Pulse plasma nitriding uses an electrical discharge in a low-pressure nitrogen and hydrogen atmosphere to activate the surface and introduce nitrogen into the metal. Nitrogen diffuses below the surface to create a hard case while the core retains its load-bearing role. Pulsed power gives direct control over the discharge and heat input. Compared with conventional ammonia-gas or molten-salt routes, plasma offers practical advantages in selective mechanical masking, surface activation and control of the diffusion and compound layers, with no molten-salt carryover. Treatment below the material’s previous tempering temperature helps limit core softening, and no final hardening quench is required. Patt adjusts the cycle to the alloy, geometry and intended contact conditions.
Three treatment avenues
Diffusion depth, stainless surface hardening and compound-layer design address different contact demands.
A supporting diffusion case for abrasive wear, sliding contact and fatigue resistance. Suited to H13, H11, nitriding steels and suitable quenched-and-tempered alloy steels. Case depth and compound-layer thickness are selected around the core hardness and loading.
ExploreSurface hardening for wear and galling control while preserving the required stainless corrosion behaviour. S-phase processing applies to austenitic grades such as 304 and 316L; martensitic and PH stainless grades use alloy-specific expanded-martensite routes, including Patt steels.
ExploreA controlled iron-nitride surface layer for adhesive wear, scuffing and sliding contact. Gamma-prime, epsilon or mixed layers are selected with supporting diffusion depth. Typical materials include carbon and low-alloy steels, nitriding steels and selected tool steels.
ExplorePlasma nitriding · Case study
See original cross-sectional micrographs and 24 hardness readings from two H13 traverses, alongside Patt’s 250 µm+ production case capability and reported wear improvements.
H13 nitriding case study
Patt treats tool steels, martensitic and precipitation-hardening stainless steels, Inconel nickel alloys and titanium. Each material family needs its own surface activation, temperature and layer design. Our work covers dies, adapters, shafts, races, valves and precision wear parts, supported by machining, inspection and process development under one roof.
Nitrided and coated valve-train components illustrate surface engineering applied to parts with repeated contact and sliding motion.
Patt uses in-house hardness testers to check nitrided cases. Hardness checking supports our practical experience in selecting and controlling treatments for tooling and precision components. Specify the alloy, prior heat treatment, required hardness and inspection requirements with your enquiry so that the checks can be agreed for the part.
Yes. Pulse plasma nitriding is available for outside customers as well as Patt equipment. Send the alloy, previous heat treatment, part drawing, dimensions, quantity and required case or failure mode. Patt also treats suitable nickel alloys, including Inconel, and titanium.
Send the alloy designation, previous heat treatment and core hardness, drawing or dimensions, quantity, areas to treat or mask, and operating conditions. Include the wear or failure problem, target case depth and surface hardness if specified, final tolerances and required delivery date.