Construction of a metals nitriding plant using a new technology of pulsed plasma

• Grant number: 03/07872-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: January 01, 2005
• End date: December 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Wisnivesky
• Grantee: Daniel Wisnivesky
• Company: Plasma Liits Comércio de Equipamentos Industriais Ltda. - EPP
• City: Campinas

Abstract

The plasma nitriding of metals is a thermochemical process which allows the properties of surface hardness to be altered, improving the resistance to wear, to corrosion and the material’s thermic resistance. The process is used in the treatment of ferrous metals, refractory metals and, more recently, aluminum. The nitriding of surfaces is used, among others, in the mechanical, automotive, hydraulic, metallurgical, biomedical and food industries. The process is used in the treatment of plastics injection molds for automotive parts (valves, gears and pistons), aluminum extrusion dies, tools for cutting and machining metals, perforations for casting molds in general and in the treatment of prostheses, among others. This project proposes the building and exploitation of a plasma nitriding plant, of medium size, using the concept of a furnace with multiple independent cathodes with the following objectives: 1) innovate in the functioning of the pulsed plasma nitriding furnace by using the technology of modular furnace with multiple independent cathodes; 2) to offer metals surface nitriding service using a clean and modern technology and a controlled and reproducible process; 3) manufacture and commercialize complete plasma nitriding plants. (AU)