Test Coupon Verification: Every furnace load is accompanied by specific metal test coupons matching your exact material heat. These coupons are destructively evaluated to certify the case depth, diffusion zones, and compound-layer metrics. Comprehensive Hardness Mapping: We provide comprehensive microhardness maps for critical part geometries. This data maps specific hardness values from the immediate surface down through the diffusion zone, ensuring compliance with your exact engineering prints.
At Woodworth, we intentionally utilize gas nitriding throughout all 33 of our identical furnaces. Unlike plasma nitriding—which relies on a directional electrical glow discharge—gas nitriding utilizes an enveloping, ammonia-based atmosphere. This eliminates the risk of “hollow cathode” defects, arc damage, or localized overheating on complex part geometries or deep slots, ensuring complete, 360-degree surface coverage.
Process Type: Controlled Gas Nitriding (Gaseous Atmospheric Diffusion) Fleet Capacity: 33 Identical Computer-Controlled Furnaces (Interchangeable Recipes) Surface Hardness Achieved: Up to 60+ HRC (subject to base alloy composition) Standard Turnaround: 3–4 Business Days (dependent on final polishing specifications) Quality Certification: Destructive Test Coupon Analysis & Microhardness Mapping Per Batch
Nitride treatments involve placing the parts to be treated into a furnace at a set temperature for a certain amount of time. All parts are placed on a flat surface to ensure dimensional stability and effective treatment. The entire process is precisely controlled to ensure the desired results have been achieved. To learn more about Woodworth’s nitriding process, contact our team today.
Compound Zone (White Layer): A thin surface layer (typically 0.0002″–0.001″) of iron nitride phases that improves corrosion resistance and surface hardness. Diffusion Zone: The deeper, primary hardened layer (0.003″–0.030″ depending on material and cycle time) where nitrogen in solid solution and fine nitride precipitates deliver superior wear resistance and bending fatigue strength.
During treatment, ammonia (NH3) is introduced into the sealed furnace. At a temperature, ammonia dissociates into nascent nitrogen and hydrogen. Nitrogen atoms diffuse into the steel surface, reacting with alloying elements — primarily aluminum, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium — to form extremely hard iron-nitride and alloy-nitride compounds within two distinct zones:
When it comes to high-capacity, computer-controlled gas nitride treatments, Woodworth Heat Treating is the commercial industrial leader in North America. Operating a fleet of 33 identical, atmosphere-monitored furnaces across our twin facilities in Flint and Pontiac, Michigan, we offer unmatched production volume combined with absolute metallurgical repeatability.
Gas nitriding is a thermochemical case-hardening process that enriches the surface layer of ferrous parts with nitrogen, producing a hard, wear-resistant case while the core remains tough and ductile. The process takes place entirely below the steel’s transformation temperature, so no quench is required, and dimensional distortion is minimal.
Whether your goal is to dramatically extend the working life of massive automotive stamping dies or ensure uniform case depth across high-volume production runs of industrial fasteners, our specialized facilities deliver an efficient 3 to 4 day turnaround time tailored to protect your production schedule.
Automotive: High-volume powertrain components, heavy-duty stamping dies, and assemblies. Aerospace & Defense: Military-spec components requiring strict compliance, traceability, and repeatable data. Energy, Oil & Gas: Precision valving, drilling head sub-assemblies, and heavy industrial fasteners.
官网：https://www.woodworthheattreating.com/services/nitride/
资料来源：企业官网公司介绍页面（复核日期：2026-10-29）。