Laser and Plasma Nitriding of Titanium in the Atmosphere Environment

Abstract

Laser nitriding is an attractive method to improve metal surface properties, such as hardness, wear, and corrosion resistance, with the advantage of simple experimental setup, rapid treatment, and precise process control. Here, titanium nitride was obtained in the atmosphere using a newly developed technique-a mixing technology of laser and plasma nitriding (LPN)-in order to enhance the titanium tribological properties. In addition to the experiments with LPN, also the results of the traditional technique of laser nitriding (LN) and a mixing technology of laser and pre-heated nitrogen (LHN) were presented. It has been shown that the LPN nitriding efficiency was better compared to LN and LHN. Moreover, the phase formation of titanium nitride was given at different laser energy densities with emphasis on the mixing technology with laser and plasma.