The IONIT® process is a plasma nitriding and plasma nitro-carburizing process for alloyed steel, cast iron, sintered materials and special materials. It is a two-layer process comprised of a white compound layer and a diffusion zone.

A self-contained gas discharge within the plasma, which is important to this thermochemical treatment, takes place at comparatively low pressures (10 to 500 Pa) and a low electrical potential of several hundred volts (300 to 800 V) between the anode and the cathode (the components which are to be treated). A glow fog forms in the area of the discharge within a defined distance from the surface of the substrate.

The voltage drop that takes place in this region gives rise to a significant transfer of kinetic energy to the ions and neutral particles present. The impact of these particles results in the illuminating properties of the glow discharge.

Diffusion occurs at component temperatures between 350 – 600 °C (660 – 1110 °F). The resulting surface characteristics, such as hardness, thickness of the white layer and diffusion zone are dependent on the material used and the process parameters, such as process temperature, time and gas composition.

Typically, the thickness of the white layer is upwards of 20 µm (0.0008 in.) and the diffusion zone is approximately up to 0.8 mm (0.03 in.) thick, with a resulting surface hardness of approximately 350 – 1200 HV1.