Abstract: A method of activating an article of passive ferrous or non-ferrous metal by heating at least one compound containing nitrogen and carbon, wherein the article is treated with gaseous species derived from the compound. The activated article can be subsequently carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized in shorter time at lower temperature and resulting superior mechanical properties compared with non-activated articles and even articles of stainless steel, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy or titanium based material can be carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 19, 2010
Date of Patent:
September 30, 2014
Assignees:
Expanite A/S, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet—DTV
Inventors:
Thomas Lundin Christiansen, Thomas Strabo Hummelshøj, Marcel A. J. Somers