Surface Modification Techniques for Steel Components Working in Wear and Corrosion Conditions

The process of electrolyte plasma nitriding is presented consisting in surface saturation of steels in low-temperature hydrostatic glow-discharged plasma generated in nitrogen containing liquid electrolyte. The method can be applied for strengthening of small machine parts made of carbon steels or of low-alloyed steels for increase wear and corrosion resistant of components working in corrosive and wear conditions (moisture, humidity, sand, etc.). Processes of steels surface strengthening by nitriding in low-temperature electrolyte plasma are combined with their surface alloying by a metal element (chromium, aluminum, vanadium, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, and niobium) and also by combination of metals. Microstructure and phase composition of diffusion layers are examined; results of wear and corrosion tests are discussed.