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Laser assisted nitriding of steel

I am a student doing research work on Laser nitriding of steel. I'm not really clear on how the actual nitriding process works. Could anyone please provide the information I'm looking for, or a web-site that would provide such basic information?

Elizabeth Cyriac
Applied Research Center - Newport News, VA, USA
2001

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Gee Elizabeth, you'll really need to ask your prof about this. The laser can supply the heat necessary for the nitriding process, but it can't supply the nitrogen ions: they'll have to come from either a nitrogen atmosphere or ion implantation or some other source. I know of no commercial or proposed nitriding process that uses a laser. Doesn't mean it can't, just that no-one has figured out a way to do that and make a buck.

Sounds like you're working on some fun stuff!

Good luck!

Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York
2001

What are the various methods of nitriding and what are their drawbacks? I had searched many sites and books for this question, but either I am not able to find the right answer or the contents were not up to mark.

Sanjay B.
student - Mumbai
2007

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Hi Sanjay. There is gaseous nitriding, and salt bath nitriding, and plasma assisted nitriding, and here you are reading about laser assisted nitriding. I can't say that that is an exhaustive list, but it's a start. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007