For example, the piston rods of gas springs were traditionally chrome plated for wear resistance and organically sealed for corrosion resistance, this two stage process has been replaced with a single Nitrotec treatment.

Nitrotec is also being used on pivot pins for construction excavating equipment, which were previously induction hardened for wear resistance and mechanically zinc coated for corrosion protection.

Nitrotec is a surface engineering process for the treatment of steels and cast irons using a gaseous nitrogenbearing atmosphere at temperatures below 723infinityC. The treatments develop iron nitride surface compound layers between 5 and 50 microns thick, supported by a nitrogen rich diffusion zone in the substrate. By choice of treatment temperature, time and nitrogen potential of the atmosphere, the structure, composition and hardness of the compound layer and the sub-surface diffusion zone, are controlled. The use of an innovative oxidation technique, combined with specially formulated aqueous quenchants, allows organic sealants to be incorporated enhancing performance and based on the engineering requirements of a specific application.

From its nine sites in the UK the TTI Group, part of Aalberts Industries Nv, provides conventional heat treatments to a large number of British engineering companies. However, it is in low temperature treatments where TTI has the widest range of processes, including salt bath nitrocarburising at Letchworth, gas and plasma nitriding at Telford, and PVD and plasma nitriding at Birmingham.

www.ttigroup.co.uk