Ion treatment by low pressure arc plasma immersion surface engineering processes

► Ionitriding and coating deposition processes are performed in one uninterrupted RAD plasma immersion processing cycle. ► Ionitriding rate increases with RAD current accompanied by increase of the concentration of nitrogen-bearing species. ► The ionitriding incubation period is inversely proportional to the square of the RAD ion current density. ► Duplex treatment can improve load bearing capacity of the engineered surfaces. ► Thickness and hardness of RAD plasma ionitrided layer increase with increase of the substrate temperature.