New ASPN High Efficiency Treatment of ASTM M2 Steel

Plasma nitriding treatments are applied to achieve excellent surface properties on steel parts and tools. Active screen plasma (ASPN) does not have the defects presents in direct (DCPN). However, ASPN require much longer processing times develop layers as deep those of DCPN. This work development a biased treatment system, investigate possibility achieving greater efficiency. The were performed ASTM M2 samples using same parameters 4 different configurations: DCPN, 2 active with specimens voltage: one was called "bright bias", because voltage is high enough glow samples, other "dark where no sheath seen samples. dark presented best results. These results could be understood by electromagnetic field generated bias source promoting deposition nitrogen ions part being treated. Therefore, it demonstrated that use larger reactors fundamental good smaller times.