Glow discharge nitriding of oxides

The presence of energetic species in a glow discharge allows intense, localized heating of a process material, in an extremely chemically reactive environment. When nitrogen is employed as the process gas the resultant discharge exhibits strong reducing and nitriding tendencies. Several oxide materials were exposed to nitrogen discharges and their interactions characterized. These oxides were rapidly heated and their chemical responses were dependent on oxide type. Oxides prone to vaporization due to reduction, were rapidly attacked. Materials that resisted such attack were readily nitrided. Powder compacts sintered more rapidly than expected for thermal processing and demonstrated a strong atmosphere dependence. Areas investigated included: attack rates for single and mixed oxides; nitriding characteristics of ZrO2; Al2O3 and glass melts; and sintering characteristics of Al2O3 and ZrO2