Nitriding process in nitriding furnace

Introduce ammonia gas into the stainless steel vacuum sealed tank in the nitriding furnace, heat it to 520℃, and maintain it for an appropriate period of time.

The duration varies from 3 to 90 hours depending on the material of the workpiece and the requirements of the nitrided layer, to obtain a nitrogen-containing strengthening layer on the surface of the nitrided workpiece, achieving high hardness, high wear resistance, high fatigue limit and good wear resistance.

Operating method of the nitriding furnace:

The mold before nitriding must be a workpiece that has undergone normalizing or quenching and tempering treatment first.

2. First, wipe the surface of the workpiece with gasoline and alcohol. There must be no rust spots, oil stains or dirt.

3. After loading into the furnace, tighten the furnace cover clamping bolts symmetrically.

4. Introduce cooling water into the water inlets of the furnace tank and the furnace cover for circulating water cooling. The lower end of the cooling water pipe on the furnace cover is for water inflow and the upper end for water outflow. The furnace tank takes in water and discharges water separately. All the water pipes on the furnace cover can be connected in series according to the principle of low in and high out, with water inflow from one outlet and water outflow from the other.

5. Before heating up, nitrogen should be sent for exhaust first. The flow rate during exhaust should be more than twice as large as that during use.

After 10 minutes of exhaust, set the temperature control instrument (as shown in the following figure) to 150℃, turn the automatic heating switch to the on position, and continuously exhaust and heat at 150℃ for 2 hours. Then set the temperature control instrument to 530℃, reduce the ammonia gas flow rate, maintain positive pressure inside the furnace, and there will be a small upward pressure of the gas flow at the exhaust port. When the furnace temperature rises to 530℃, carry out constant temperature and flow nitriding for 3 to 20 hours. Increase the ammonia pressure a little more to maintain a moderate exhaust pressure, and carry out nitriding for 4 to 70 hours. Then reduce the ammonia pressure and perform denitrification for 1 to 2 hours. Cut off the power supply, stop heating, and provide a small amount of ammonia to maintain a positive pressure inside the furnace. Only when the furnace temperature drops below 150℃ can the ammonia supply be stopped.

The Nitriding furnace control cabinet serves as the command center for the entire nitriding process, integrating advanced control technologies to ensure precise, efficient, and reliable operation of the nitriding furnace. As a critical component in Heat treatment facilities, it plays a decisive role in managing various parameters that directly impact the quality and consistency of nitrided workpieces.

At the heart of the control cabinet lies its comprehensive control system, which oversees multiple aspects of the nitriding process. It has the ability to precisely regulate temperature, a crucial factor in nitriding. By utilizing high - accuracy temperature sensors and sophisticated control algorithms, the cabinet can maintain the furnace temperature within a narrow tolerance range, ensuring that materials are heated and treated uniformly. This level of precision is vital, as even slight temperature variations can significantly affect the formation of the nitride layer, altering the hardness, wear resistance, and other mechanical properties of the workpiece. For instance, in the production of high - performance gears for the automotive industry, accurate temperature control provided by the cabinet guarantees that the nitriding process imparts the optimal surface characteristics, enhancing the gears' durability and performance.

In addition to temperature control, the nitriding furnace control cabinet excels in managing the atmosphere within the furnace. It coordinates with the atmosphere panel to regulate gas composition, pressure, and flow rate. The cabinet can precisely adjust the supply of nitriding gases such as ammonia, nitrogen, and hydrogen, ensuring that the chemical reactions inside the furnace occur under the most favorable conditions. It also monitors and controls the pressure within the furnace chamber, as proper pressure is essential for the effective diffusion of nitrogen atoms into the material, determining the thickness and quality of the nitride layer. By maintaining a stable and consistent atmosphere, the control cabinet enables the production of high - quality nitrided products with uniform surface properties, regardless of the batch size or complexity of the workpieces.

The control cabinet is also equipped with a user - friendly and intuitive interface, designed to simplify operation for technicians. It typically features a large - screen display that provides real - time data visualization, including temperature curves, gas concentration readings, and process timelines. Operators can easily set process parameters, initiate and stop the nitriding cycle, and monitor the progress of the treatment. Some advanced control cabinets are integrated with intelligent control systems that support programmable recipes. These recipes allow operators to store and recall specific process settings for different materials or product requirements, reducing setup time and ensuring process repeatability. Moreover, the cabinets often come with alarm functions that promptly notify operators of any abnormal conditions, such as temperature fluctuations beyond the set range, gas leaks, or equipment malfunctions, enabling timely corrective actions to prevent production losses.

The applications of nitriding furnace control cabinets are widespread across multiple industries. In the aerospace industry, where the quality and reliability of components are of utmost importance, these control cabinets are used to ensure that nitriding processes for high - strength alloys in turbine blades, engine casings, and structural parts are carried out with precision. The accurate control over temperature and atmosphere guarantees that the components can withstand extreme conditions during flight. In the mold - making industry, the control cabinet helps optimize the nitriding process for molds, improving their surface hardness and wear resistance, which in turn enhances the quality of molded products and reduces mold maintenance costs. The automotive, electronics, and medical device industries also benefit from the precise control capabilities of the nitriding furnace control cabinet, enabling them to produce components with superior surface properties that meet strict industry standards.

From a productivity and cost - management perspective, the nitriding furnace control cabinet offers significant advantages. Its ability to precisely control the nitriding process reduces the occurrence of product defects, minimizing rework and scrap rates. By optimizing process parameters and ensuring consistent treatment, it improves production efficiency and throughput. Additionally, the integration of energy - saving features in many control cabinets helps reduce power consumption during the nitriding process, contributing to lower operational costs. The cabinet's diagnostic functions also play a crucial role in preventive maintenance, allowing technicians to identify potential issues before they escalate, thereby reducing equipment downtime and associated repair costs.

In summary, the nitriding furnace control cabinet is an indispensable asset in the field of nitriding heat treatment. With its advanced control systems, user - friendly operation, wide - ranging applications, and cost - saving benefits, it serves as the linchpin for industries aiming to produce high - quality nitrided products efficiently and competitively. Whether it's for manufacturing critical components in aerospace or enhancing the performance of molds in the tooling industry, the nitriding furnace control cabinet is essential for achieving reliable, consistent, and superior nitriding results.