Plasma Ion Processing System

System sales

Technical Information

What is Plasma Ion Processing System?

Plasma (ion) processing is a surface modification technology using ions generated by plasma.
As application examples, it is used for nitride processing and shape improvement of metal working tools.

Sharpening of cutting tools by Plasma treatment

Diamond coated cutting tool

Sharpening of Diamond coated tools by unique plasma treatment

Diamond coating achieves the improvement of wear resistance and longevity!
However... the cutting edge is rounded...

Cutting test with sharpened diamond coated tool

(Left) Machined surface by conventional tool
(Right) Machined surface by sharpened tool

Tool	R0.5 diamond coated ball end mill
Work	Ultra-fine grained carbide (lens-shaped processing)
Evaluation	Comparison of surface condition of machined surface * Provided by Shibaura Machinery Co., Ltd. (Processing machine: UVM series)

Diamond coated blade

Plasma Nitriding

Principle of Plasma Nitriding

A hollow cathode type plasma generator creates nitrogen plasma and introduce it into the vacuum chamber.
Nitrogen plasma ions are accelerated by the bias voltage applied to the specimen, bombarding. Nitrogen-based intermetallic compounds are createsd on the surface of the specimen.

Characteristics of Plasma Nitriding

We use argon gas which has low environmental impact and nitrogen gas. It provides a better work environment. (Ammonia gas is not necessary.）
Temperature increases up to processing temperature only by plasma power. It is a simple structure.
Nitride processing can be done on stainless steel.

Advantage

Improved hardness
Improved wear resistance
Improved corrosion resistance

Surface hardness of various materials

	Before treatment (HV)	After treatment (HV)
SKD11	697	1200
STAVAX	595	1200
SUS630	446	1550
SUS440C	653	1400
SUS304	213	1000

Application examples

Application to high speed tool steel

A cross-sectional view of high-speed tool steel after nitriding treatment (left) and hardness change from the surface (right) are shown.
Measure several points from the surface to the depth using a Vickers hardness tester.
The surface hardness varies depending on the target material and processing conditions.