Duplex Coatings - Lesson 4: Shallow plasma nitriding plus Ionbond™ 35 & Ionbond™ 90
This lesson, we are going into one of the two types of duplex coating we will discuss. These two ways are differentiated by the depth of the plasma nitriding layer. In this lesson: shallow plasma nitriding. And in the next – and final – one: deep plasma nitriding.
Shallow plasma nitriding can be done in the PVD machine
For a large number of demanding forming and molding applications, a shallow plasma nitriding treatment is sufficient to significantly improve the load-carrying capability of the tool. A nitriding hardness depth (NHD) of less than 50 µm is already a good basis for a subsequent PVD coating.
Advantages of Shallow Plasma Nitriding
Conveniently, that depth of plasma nitriding can be achieved with a plasma-based PVD machine, which means the PVD coating can be deposited directly after plasma nitriding. This has several advantages:
Saving on time and costs
Because there is no unloading/loading step required
Easily adjustable hardness gradient
A technical advantage of this so-called in-situ duplex process
Good bonding achieved in situ
The figures below show cross-sectional images made by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of two duplex coatings (Ionbond™ 35 and Ionbond™ 90) on AISI D2 cold work steel. Both were done in one batch with an in-situ duplex process, using Ionbond™ PVD equipment. The SEM images demonstrate a strong bonding between the PVD coating and the steel, as the compound layer formation was successfully suppressed.
Creating a hardness gradient improves the robustness of the tool
A hardness gradient is a stepwise increase in hardness from the core hardness of the workpiece material to the hard outer layer of the PVD coating. If there is a big jump in hardness, the result is less stable.
We’re almost to the end of our Summer School curriculum. In the next lesson, we’re going to take a look at the situation when deep plasma nitriding is required. Stay tuned!
Ionbond Summer School
Discover all our lessons on Duplex Coatings
Lesson 1: The correct heat treatment of tool steels
Available on 31. July 2024
Duplex coatings are especially suited for forming and molding tools. Before we can get started with that, though, we need to take one step back and look at how your tool has been treated before it arrives at Ionbond – whether it has had the correct heat treatment.
Lesson 2: Plasma nitriding of tool steels
Available on 7. August 2024
We are diving into the plasma nitriding process, a nitriding method with high reproducibility and close tolerances in the treatment result. Discover what it is exactly!
Lesson 3: Duplex coatings and their layer properties & performance
Available on 14. August 2024
We will look at the result of plasma nitriding. Two layers form, each with their own characteristics – some of which are very much desired and others are not.
Lesson 4: Shallow plasma nitriding plus Ionbond™ 35 & Ionbond™ 90
Available on 21. August 2024
We are going into one of the two types of duplex coating we will discuss. These two ways are differentiated by the depth of the plasma nitriding layer. In this lesson: shallow plasma nitriding.
Lesson 5: Deep plasma nitriding plus Ionbond™ 90
Available on 28. August 2024
In Lesson 4 we looked at shallow plasma nitriding. Now, we are going to look into duplex coatings for the most demanding applications, which require much deeper plasma nitriding layers.
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Dr. Ing. Tobias Brögelmann
成型与模塑全球分部经理
Dr. Ing. Tobias Brögelmann
成型与模塑全球分部经理