We have succeeded in nitriding of tool steels by atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. In this study, tribological properties of tool steels treated by the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet nitriding were investigated. As a result, frictional coefficient and specific wear rate took small values. It was found from these results that the nitriding treatment using pulsed-arc atmospheric-pressure plasma jet leads to the improvement of wear resistance, suppression of energy loss and life prolongation of steel. In addition, the oxide film, which undesirably forms on the sample surface during the treatment, seems to yield high frictional coefficient in initial wear.
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