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In this work, we used mass spectrometry to investigate ammonia (NH 3) formed during the nitrocarburizing and nitriding processes of α-Fe sintered and low alloy steel by using d.c. glow discharges in different N 2 /H 2 /CH 4 gas concentration mixtures. Experiments were conducted using two different configurations: one to collect and analyze species probed primarily in the bulk of the plasma, at a position distant from the heated sample; and the other to collect and analyze species very close to the reactive surface of the heated sample in such a way as to allow the analysis of lower concentration or residence time species, formed at the plasma/sample surface interface. Use of these configurations contributed to the investigation of the physical chemistry involved in the above plasma processes. An exchange the expected stoichiometry in ammonia formation in N 2 /H 2 /CH 4 mixtures, with a shift towards higher nitrogen consumption, is observed and is interpreted an indication of nitrogen removal from the surface associated with ammonia and carbonitrides/nitrides formation. The present results point to the existence of a correlation between the nitrocarburizing and nitriding processes with respect to the formation of non-stoichiometric ammonia as a product.

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Powder metallurgy is widely used in the manufacture of components that have complex geometry. The good dimensional control, reduction in manufacturing steps and operating costs which has favored the use of this technique for manufacturing of titanium alloys components. However, the high affinity of this material with oxygen hinders strongly the sintering process. For this, the sintering associated with plasma technology can be considered an alternative technique for the processing of this material. The strict control of sintering atmosphere performed at low pressures and the reactive species present in the plasma environment can help to improve the sintering of this material. The results presented in this paper show a good correlation between the parameters used for the compaction of the samples and the microstructure develop during the plasma sintering of samples. The microstructure of the plasma assisted samples is also affected by the particular configuration used in the plasma reactor.

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