Surface engineering since 1992
A diffusion-hardened surface for tool steels and alloy steels exposed to wear, sliding contact and repeated loading. Patt develops pulse plasma nitriding treatments in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, supported by production experience since 1992.
An electrical discharge activates the surface in a low-pressure nitrogen-containing atmosphere. Nitrogen enters the steel and forms a hardened diffusion zone; nitride-forming alloying elements influence the hardness response. Temperature, time and gas chemistry determine the treatment together with the starting material condition.
The diffusion case supports the working surface while the core carries the bulk load. Case depth, hardness gradient and compound-layer requirements are selected together. Treatment temperature is reviewed against the previous tempering or aging cycle, and the process does not require a final hardening quench.
| Material family | Application and process focus |
|---|---|
| H13 and H11 tool steels | Dies, tooling and wear surfaces; match the cycle to core hardness and prior tempering. |
| Nitriding steels and quenched-and-tempered alloy steels | Shafts, sleeves, races and loaded sliding parts; define case depth and core support. |
| Stainless steel, Inconel and titanium | Patt also treats these families using their own process routes. Stainless corrosion requirements call for a separate review. |
Drawings identify contact surfaces, bores, threads and areas to mask. Geometry, fixturing and surface preparation are reviewed to manage treatment coverage and dimensional response. Machining and inspection at Patt help coordinate the component condition before and after treatment.
Include the steel designation, heat-treatment history, core hardness, drawing, quantity and service conditions. Identify required case depth, hardness, compound-layer limits and final dimensions. During quotation, agree on the inspection scope, including any hardness traverse, cross-section or dimensional checks and representative witness samples.
Compare nitriding treatments
Diffusion depth, stainless surface hardening and compound-layer design address different contact demands.
Surface 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.
ExploreSend 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.