Abstract: A method of forming a wear-resistant coating for internal combustion engine component parts which allows the part to remain dimensionally stable under severe engine operating conditions is provided. The coating is formed by a two step method. First, the engine part is coated with chromium to form a chromium base layer. Second, the chromium coated part is subjected to a reactive gas plasma in a reaction chamber at an elevated temperature and under an applied electrical potential. The gas of the plasma reacts with the chromium to form the wear-resistant layer. Preferably, the reactive gas is nitrogen which reacts with the chromium to form a chromium nitride surface layer on the chromium base layer.

Abstract: A method for forming extremely strong ceramic-to-metal joints is provided which is particularly applicable to the formation of components for internal combustion engines. The present method simultaneously brazes a ceramic to a metal and creates a normallized microstructure and desired mechanical in the metal in a single heating step. The ceramic is metallized, a suitable alloy is applied, and the ceramic-alloy-metal composite is first heated to about 160.degree. F. to 1750.degree. F. for about one hour and then gas quenched in nitrogen or argon, or a gas with similar heat transfer capabilities.