ABSTRACT
References .......................................................................................................................... 537
As was stated in the first edition of this handbook, interest in the subject of nitriding has grown
even more as a recognized and proven surface engineering process. Further to this (and particu-
larly during the past 10 years) has become recognized as a very simple process and one with-
out serious problems that can arise, such as the problem of distortion. As all heat treaters,
metallurgists, and engineers are aware distortion can be a very serious problem. The process of
nitriding, while not distortion free, is a process that can incur minimal distortion such as that seen
on the other surface treatment process techniques, which involve higher process temperatures as
well as a quench from a high austenitizing temperature. The processes referred to are carburizing
and carbonitriding. Both of these processes are high-temperature operations and require metal-
lurgical phase changes in order to induce carbon, or carbon plus nitrogen into the steel surface.
