Liquid Nitriding (LN) is a subcritical surface enhancement process. It is a commonly used term for the diffusion process that is actually liquid nitrocarburizing. This is a thermo-chemical reaction where primarily nitrogen and other elements are diffused into the surface of iron-based materials through a salt bath. An iron-nitride compound layer is formed that provides several benefits such as
- Increased Fatigue Strength
- Added Wear Resistance
- Enhanced Lubricity
- Improved Aesthetics (Lustrous Black Finish)
- Increased Corrosion Resistance (500 Hours in a Salt Spray)
- Minimal to No Distortion
The (LN) process is most commonly used on low alloy materials, aluminum alloyed steels and stainless steels.