The Role of the Nitrotec Process in Vehicle Weight Reduction
Nitrotec is characterized as a low-distortion treatment for ferrous materials where surface enrichment, predominantly by nitrogen, forms a hard surface layer of epsilon iron nitride, beneath which there is a nitrogen diffusion zone. The surface layer imparts wear and corrosion resistance and the diffusion zone increases the yield and fatigue strength, particularly in thin section sizes. Process developments have significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance and aesthetic appearance of treated components to make Nitrotec competitive with electroplated finishes. Major commercialization took place during the 1980s with a wide range of successful applications from windscreen wiper systems to bumper armatures, using combinations of the unique properties obtainable from the process to provide cost and weight savings.