Liquid Nitrocarburizing with low environmental impact for tribological applications: Development and continuous improvement of a sustainable thermochemical treatment through Life Cycle Assessment method.

Liquid nitrocarburizing is a well-known surface treatment when it comes to tribological parts and systems. The surface layers formed through liquid nitrocarburizing processing (compound layer and diffusion zone) make it possible to combine the corrosion, wear, and fatigue resistance properties of the treated materials (mainly ferrous alloys, from low-carbon to high-alloy steels and even cast iron) while enhancing their tribological behavior.

Based on its worldwide presence, its continuous improvement and high industrial maturity, HEF Groupe's Liquid Nitrocarburizing is the technology ready for future with its CLIN 4.0 program and it ambitious ECOCLIN program which allow the recycling of wastes from nitriding installations and their transformation into directly reusable consumables. That is why HEF's liquid nitrocarburizing is proven to be not only an alternative to other surface treatments (such as Chromium plating) on both technical aspects and price competitiveness but also a real solution answering the current environmental challenges. Thanks to the implementation of Life cycle Assessment methods, HEF’s liquid nitrocarburizing continuously improve its sustainability and continuously lower its impacts on global resources, making it an iterative routine to decrease environmental impact on all resources (Energy, water, raw materials,...)