Modeling the Gas Nitriding Process for Steels

Heat treaters need an effective simulation tool to predict the nitriding performance of a wide variety of steels. This tool is needed not only to predict the hardness and nitrogen concentration profiles but also to optimize the process in terms of cycle time and cost. In the present work a new CHTE software model, NitrideTool ©, has been developed to simulate the gas nitriding process of steels. The fundamentals of the model will be presented and discussed including the kinetics of compound layer growth, the determination of the boundary conditions and the nitrogen diffusivity in the diffusion zone. The experimental verification of the model is also presented.