Gas nitriding of Ti-6Al-4V by induction heating

The usually poor wear behavior of titanium materials can be improved by thermochemical surface heat treatment. In contrast to conventional procedures, which necessitate prolonged treatment, it is possible to reduce the heat treatment period considerably by means of HF induction. Serving as an example in this context is a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy that is to demonstrate the possibilities of induction gas nitriding. Temperature variations between 900 C and 1,600 C have resulted in homogeneous surface structures whose microstructures can basically be explained by the titanium-nitrogen diagram. In particular with the 1,600 C variant, the wear resistance has been improved, compared with the untreated titanium material there is a seventyfold increase in wear resistance.