Precision parts processing: carbonitriding for surface hardening
Carbonitriding, sometimes called dry cyaniding or carbonitriding, is a surface hardening process. By placing the steel in a gas above the critical temperature, it absorbs carbon and nitrogen. Any carbon rich gas plus ammonia can be used to produce a wear-resistant outer layer with a thickness of 0.003 to 0.030 inch (0.08 to 0.76mm). One of the advantages of Carbonitriding is that the hardenability of the outer layer is greatly increased after adding nitrogen, which provides conditions for the use of low-cost steel.