Nitriding

Springs and gas cylinders manufacturer Special Springs has bolstered its heat treating capacity with a new nitriding turnkey system. By adding to their production capabilities, the company aims to meet the growing demands of their client base, which includes the automotive, appliance, agriculture, and heavy equipment sectors.

This expansion follows a long-standing collaboration, which began in October 2004 with the commissioning of Special Springs‘ first Nitrex nitriding turnkey system and continues with the installation of an NXK series furnace in July 2024.

The springs manufacturer installed the compact NXK-812 furnace, which incorporates the heat treat technologies Nitreg and ONC, to accommodate increased capacity and optimize production efficiency. The system has a load capacity of 1,200 kg (2,600 lbs); the two furnaces work alongside each other, utilizing interchangeable material handling equipment to ensure continuity and efficiency in their production process.

“[Special Springs’] decision to expand with a second Nitrex system highlights the strength of our solutions and the trust we’ve built over the years. We look forward to seeing future advancements supporting advanced gas springs exemplifies the synergy achieved through strategic collaboration, advanced heat treat technologies, and exceptional support,” said Marcin Stoklosa, technical sales manager of EMEA region at Nitrex.

The press release is available in its original form here.

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ev chassis production expands with retort furnace

An international manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs) is adding an advanced retort pit furnace for the production of EV chassis. The equipment’s larger working space will allow for the nitriding of very large die elements needed to produce this automotive equipment.

“This is the fourth SECO/WARWICK furnace for this global manufacturer of electric vehicles. Our product solves the challenge of nitriding dies for the production of large-sized chassis, using a working space with a diameter of 1,600 mm and a height of 2,800 mm. We delivered a similar solution to this partner last year,” said Maciej Korecki, vice-president of the SECO/WARWICK Vacuum Segment. 

The equipment provided to the company has a compact design with vacuum purging, electric heating supported by an internal circulation fan, and an external cooling system. The retort and heating system’s special design as well as the gas installation ensures long and reliable operation in industrial conditions. The solution is based on a standard vertical VR retort furnace with an enlarged working space (Ø 1600 mm/63 in and 2800 mm/110.2 in effective height), which will allow the manufacturer to nitride the huge dies used for electric car chassis. 

The press release is available in its original form here.

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Source: Advanced Heat Treat Corp.

Metallography and nitriding, while two separate things, actually have a relationship. Do you know what it is? Would you be surprised to know that one enhances the other? Read this best of the web article to clearly see how metallography results help the nitriding of ferrous alloys be the best that it can be.

Find out how metallography is an essential tool in the nitriding process. Take a look at some basic definitions and peruse some microscope images that help explain what nitriding does to different materials. Dig even deeper with discussion of problems such as not enough stress relief and the presence of sulfides. Metallography helps explain, in this article, what nitriding can do for many different applications.

An excerpt:

Producing the best nitrided layers for the given application requires a good cooperation between designers of the product and the manufacturing companies making it . . . . Metallography of the parts, or samples which run together with them, is extremely important for verifying results of this thermochemical treatment and assessing the properties of the layer formed during, the data are also used for maintaining a good predictability of the process.

Read more: “Controlling the Nitriding Layers and Process with Metallography.“

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Arslan Aluminyum recently added three new extrusion presses to its production, increasing the demand for nitriding their dies and necessitating a large-capacity nitriding system for the biggest press. The system will nitride H11 and H13 dies that extrude aluminum profiles for the construction, renewables, joinery, furniture, and equipment sectors.

When the plant upgraded, the new nitriding system furnace was required to help double the production capacity. Arslan selected a NX-1015 pit furnace designed to treat workloads up to 4400 lbs that are 39″x59″. The collaboration with Nitrex and Arslan Aluminyum started in 2011, when the family-run business purchased an NX-812 turnkey nitriding system.

“The people of Arslan[‘s] high regard for our products and company has helped us tremendously in getting new contracts in Turkey.” commented Marcin Stokłosa, project manager at Nitrex.

Pictured above: collaborators from Turkey. Photo Source: Nitrex.

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A turnkey system has been delivered to SAGLAM METAL, a Turkish commercial heat-treating company. With this new addition, the company now offers controlled nitriding, nitrocarburizing, and post-oxidation treatments for a wide range of metal applications to different markets.

The turnkey system delivered to SAGLAM METAL includes a 5500 lb. load capacity pit-type furnace, as well as technologies for controlled gas nitriding, controlled nitrocarburizing, and in-process post-oxidation. The system is used to nitride/nitrocarburize a variety of different parts, part sizes, and materials to various specifications for the automotive, extrusion, tooling, and other manufacturing industries.

“SAGLAM selected NITREX based on the recommendation of our local representative, in addition to nitriding/nitrocarburizing results,” stated Marcin Stokłosa, project manager at NITREX Poland.

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It’s always a good idea to review the building blocks of the heat treat industry. In preparation for Heat Treat Boot Camp, get back to the basics to be ready for these five topics: Products, Processes, Players, Markets, and Materials. Take a look or listen to any of these 10 resources in this Technical Tuesday original content compilation to be geared up for Heat Treat Boot Camp.

See you in Pittsburgh on October 31^st!

Products

Here’s a look at one type of product that is used in heat treatment processes: a mesh belt heat treatment system. This article takes a look at advancements in improving fastener quality:

1. “Mesh Belt Heat Treatment System Advancements for Automotive Fastener Production“

Processes

Learn how nitriding and ferritic nitrocarburizing processes differ in this in-depth article. Keep it simple by referring to the easy-to-understand chart within the piece:

2. “Nitriding vs. FNC“

Players

At Heat Treat Boot Camp, the players in the industry will be discussed. Who are the movers and shakers? Here are some resources with a sampling:

3. “3 Aspirational Heat Treat Legends“

4. Heat Treat Radio #32: A Discussion with Jean-François Cloutier, Nitrex CEO

5. Heat Treat Radio #7: Former Bodycote CEO Re-Enters Heat Treat Market

Markets

The aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical markets are constantly evolving and improving. Just to keep the markets fresh in the mind, here is the latest technical item from each:

6. Aerospace. “Vacuum Gas Cooling: Pressure vs. Velocity, Part 1 of 2“

7. Automotive. “Guide To Conducting SATs According to CQI-9 4th Edition“

8. Energy. “Harnessing the Sun: A Heat Treat Case Study with General Atomics“

9. Medical. “Hot Take on HIPing“

Materials

This interview digs in to aluminum and different types of steel. A bit of a history lesson appears here too, as the raw materials are examined:

10. Heat Treat Radio #76: “Lunch & Learn with Heat Treat Today – Mill Processes and Production, Part 1“

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A manufacturer in Poland turns to in-house heat treating capabilities rather than outsourcing its nitriding for stainless steel power generation parts. Steam turbine components will now be processed at the facility in Elbląg as a result of funding help from a government program part of the European Union.

P.W.P.T. POSTEOR Sp. z o. o made the decision to stop outsourcing to commercial heat treaters its steam turbine pieces to bring the nitriding in house. The NX series furnace, model NX-620 will streamline production of these parts with its automated capabilities. The pit type furnace from NITREX meets requirement for nitriding, nitrocarburizing,  and in-process oxidation. “The turnkey system also includes remote access software, an INS neutralizer for a clean and environment-friendly process, and a custom HMI for the end-user,” describes Marcin Stokłosa, project manager at NITREX. “It is entirely automated, requiring little operator attendance or involvement.”

POSTEOR hopes to reduce the challenges it was facing in outsourcing the components.  With the nitriding furnace the company will have more positive control of the end results.

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We get it. You read all day: emails, memos, furnace monitoring screens. To give your eyes a break, Heat Treat Today wanted to provide some grab and go visual resources. In this original content piece, check out some visuals to help you learn about the difference between Nitriding and FNC; discover how the U.S. is doing in the race to green steel production; and get an example of the type of numbers that are normal for a CQI-9 probe method A test.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Green American Steel Is Better than You Think

In Heat Treat Today’s August 2021 Automotive print edition, Lourenco Goncalves, chairman, president, and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. made a big statement: “The United States is the benchmark of the world in all things steel. Amongst all major steelmaking nations, we have by far the greenest emissions profile.”

In a climate where the United States often gets a bad rap when it comes to environmental concerns, Lourenco’s statement is hard to believe. But, the data below contradicts this bad reputation. Check out the graphic below to learn how the United States stacks up to other countries in steel production.

CQI-9: Understanding Probe Method A

Ensuring heat treating equipment falls within CQI-9 standards can be tricky. According to Erika Zarazúa, regional purchasing manager at Global Thermal Solutions, probe method A may be the best way to identify variations in control systems.

If you’re curious about how probe method A works, view the chart below (in both English and Spanish) for an example of the kind of numbers that are typical for this test method.

Nitriding vs. FNC . . . What’s the Difference?

These days, it seems like most heat treat shops are updating equipment or changing procedures to accommodate demands for ferritic nitrocarburizing. But how different are the two processes, really? When it comes to materials commonly processed, time cycles involved, and atmospheres required, where does the difference between nitriding and FNC begin? The chart below is a quick and easy guide to distinguishing the difference between these two hardening processes. Skim away or take a deep dive into the technicalities!

About the Authors:

Lourenco Goncalves is chairman, president, and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. 

Erika Zarazúa, a 40 Under 40 Class of 2021 member, is a metallurgical engineer with over 18 years of experience in heat treatment operations and temperature measurement and has worked in multiple engineering, quality, and project roles in the automotive and aerospace industries. Erika currently holds the position of regional purchasing manager at Global Thermal Solutions.

 Jason Orosz and Mark Hemsath at Nitrex, Thomas Wingens at WINGENS LLC – International Industry Consultancy, and Dan Herring, The Heat Treat Doctor at The HERRING GROUP, Inc., provided expert input for the Nitriding vs. FNC table.

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