Gas Nitriding

Cincinnati Steel Treating (CST) is the premier gas nitriding heat treater in the Midwest region. The vertical, retort-style furnaces that CST uses provides versatility in the types of parts that can be nitrided along with excellent uniformity of case in all areas of the furnace. CST has five furnaces that are certified to AMS 2750 that can perform gas nitriding. CST also has a metallurgical laboratory that can perform any metallographic analysis called for in order to certify the nitriding heat treatment.

The nitriding process provides a hard, wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant case with almost zero distortion. The distinctive sheen left on the parts aids in the meshing of gear teeth when assembling gearboxes, and the corrosion resistant surface layer facilitates a longer lifespan for the gears.

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Nitriding Capabilities at Cincinnati Steel Treating (CST)

Cincinnati Steel Treating (CST) uses a pit-type, retort-style of nitriding furnace to perform gas nitriding. The nitriding atmosphere is circulated inside of the retort by a special fan mounted on top of the furnace that forces atmosphere from the top to the bottom and then bottom to top where it

eventually exits through an exhaust port. This circulation results in precise uniformity of case throughout the entire volume of the furnace, giving CST furnaces a unique advantage over other types. Parts are loaded onto Inconel “castles”/mounting fixtures, and these fixtures are then placed into the retort using an overhead crane. CST uses ammonia as the nitrogen source for nitriding, and the process is controlled through the control of the gasses going into the furnace. There are five furnaces that are used for nitriding, and the dimensions and weight limits of those furnaces are listed below.

Table #1 – Dimensions of Nitriding Furnaces used for Gas Nitriding at CST

Furnaces	Dimensions	Maximum Load of Parts (lbs)
Small Nitriding Furnaces (X2)	57” in Diameter X 70” deep	4,200
Large Nitriding Furnaces (X3)	7” in Diameter X 107” deep	7,000

Applications of Gas Nitriding

Gas Nitriding is a process used on finished parts to produce a hard case depth that has both high wear and corrosion resistance. The treatment produces negligible distortion because the parts are not heated above the transformation temperature. A typical cycle heats up a part to 900 – 1000°F for approximately twelve hours. The cycle time can vary depending upon the case depth sought. CST has the capability

of performing both single-stage and double stage gas nitriding to control the size of the compound, or white layer on the surface of the part. The large size of CST’s furnaces enables great quantities of parts to be treated in a single batch. Examples of parts that are gas nitrided include transmission gears, bearing cups, wear plates, thrust buttons, coupling parts, bearing races, and mechanical connector pins. CST has experience with all of these types of parts. Consult with one of our engineers if you are looking to possibly have a part gas nitrided.

The CST Quality Difference

Cincinnati Steel Treating (CST) has state-of-the-art control facilities for our nitriding furnaces that perform gas nitriding. The cyclone style of atmosphere circulation along with our specially designed castles ensure that temperatures for all parts inside of the furnace are controlled to within +/- 10°F. The gas

nitriding atmosphere is controlled using the latest technology for measuring flow rates of ammonia, oxygen, and nitrogen. CST is certified to multiple quality system standards including IATF 16949, ISO 9001, and ITAR, along with customer specific requirements (CSRs). Precise temperature charts and gas readings are available upon request, and we are also set up to perform metallographic checks on any nitrided part to ensure that the desired case depth has been reached. Let us provide you with solutions for your gas nitriding needs.

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