Modular heat treatment using nitriding and low-pressure carburising (part 1)

Vacuum heat treatment, and with it vacuum hardening, has become increasingly important in recent decades. In addition, low-pressure carburising (LPC) has been an alternative to the conventional carburising processes for more than 30 years. Its use, which was slowed down for a long time by technical and economic problems, has been further established in series production over the last 15 to 20 years. New considerations and applications now also bring together the nitriding and nitrocarburising processes with modular vacuum hardening technology. The three-part article represents the basic considerations of process and plant engineering in connection with the economic and environmental factors. In part 1, the plant technology is represented.