The nitriding process typically involves the introduction of nitrogen into the surface-adjacent zone of a component, usually at a temperature between 500 and 580 deg C. This article provides an overview of the essential aspects of the thermodynamics and kinetics of nitriding and nitrocarburizing of iron-base materials with gaseous processes. It describes nitriding potentials and the Lehrer diagram, carburizing potentials, controlled nitriding and nitrocarburizing, and the microstructural evolution of the compound layer and the diffusion zone.

This article summarizes the terminology for gas reactions, and discusses low-temperature nitriding and nitrocarburizing of stainless steels. It describes the various nitriding...