Carbo-nitriding process (also called nitro-carburizing) is a modified carburizing heat treatment process. The modification is the introduction of ammonia into the gas-carburizing atmosphere. The ammonia dissociates at furnace temperature and the nascent nitrogen diffuses into the metal simultaneously with carbon.

Carbo-nitriding processing improves surface hardness of the component. Therefore, carbo-nitriding treatment is an important phase during production of industrial components that need higher surface hardness. Gears, valves, cams, fasteners, dies and tools are some of the important industrial components that need carbo-nitriding heat treatment.

Some important parameters you must consider to evaluate carbo-nitriding process are:

1. Details of the carbo-nitriding process: temperature range and time span
2. Details of quenching process
3. Required production rate and capacity of the carbo-nitriding equipment
4. Power consumption of the carbo-nitriding equipment

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Evaluate carbo-nitriding services by different heat treatment service providers

Once you understand your carbo-nitride requirements, check out carbo-nitriding facilities available with different heat treatment service providers.

I recommend: Thermetco, a reputable heat treatment service provider, offers carbo-nitriding of different varieties of steel including hot and cold rolled steels. The Sousa Corp. provides carbo-nitriding services to the aerospace industry. Treat All Metals can provide carbo-nitriding heat treatment for various components such as powdered metal parts, cast iron products and low carbon steel components. Other reputable carbo-nitriding service providers are Lone Star Heat Treating, Industrial Steel Treating Company and Braddock Metallurgical.

Opt for specialty carbo-nitriding services

If you have specialty or non-standard surface hardness requirements, you need to opt for service providers that design and perform a specialty carbo-nitriding treatment process. Even though these services are expensive, properties of the components' surface at the end of the process justify the cost.

I recommend: Advanced Heat Treat, a provider of hardening heat treatment services, is capable of conducting plasma ferritic nitro-carburizing and gaseous ferritic nitro-carburizing. In addition to the conventional carbo-nitriding process, Nitrex can also perform vacuum carbo-nitriding process. Modern Industries is another heat treatment service provider that also has ferritic carbo-nitriding facilities. You can also obtain ion carbo-nitriding services at other carbo-nitriding suppliers such as Midsouth Metallurgical and Accurate Ion Technologies.

Buy carbo-nitriding equipment from reputable suppliers

For permanent requirements, you can buy carbo-nitriding furnaces from reputable furnace suppliers. A used furnace can provide a cost-effective solution for your carbo-nitriding requirements.

I recommend: You can buy box furnaces for your carbo-nitriding process at L&L Special Furnace, a leading furnace manufacturer. Procedyne, a manufacturer of fluid bed heat treatment equipment, supplies furnaces that can improve your carbo-nitriding facilities. For your carbo-nitriding processing requirements, you can also buy used furnaces at industrial distributors such as Used-Line.com and Machinery & Equipment Company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consult a heat treatment expert to design a carbo-nitriding process for your components, as improper carbo-nitriding heat treatment may result in rejection of the complete production batch.
• •  Understand different standards followed by your carbo-nitriding service provider.