How does nitriding differ from carburizing?

Nitriding is a heat treatment process where nitrogen is introduced into the surface of a metal, typically steel, to improve its hardness and wear resistance. One of the key aspects of nitriding is the use of ammonia as the nitrogen source. This process occurs at relatively lower temperatures compared to carburizing, which uses carbon to enhance the hardness of steel and often requires higher temperatures and longer processing times.

In nitriding, ammonia gas dissociates at elevated temperatures, allowing nitrogen to diffuse into the steel. This creates a hard, wear-resistant surface layer without the need for additional quenching processes, making it more efficient in terms of energy and time when compared with carburizing.

Understanding this context clearly associates nitriding with the specific use of ammonia for nitrogen introduction, which is a primary differentiator from carburizing processes.