Nitride barrel finish.

[ddemis]

Anyone have any info on nitride finished barrels ? What exactly is nitride and is it any more durable than melonite or phosphate ? Any first hand knowledge/answers really appreciated.

[Clint]

Nitride, melonite, QPQ, nitrocarb...

They are all relatively similar, and the terms seem to be used somewhat interchangeably in the gun industry.

There are technical variations, time, temp, gas mixture, salt bath, post processing, etc.

They are all a surface hardening process, involving the diffusion of nitrogen and/or carbon into the surface of the base metal, thereby hardening it.

It is often used as an alternative to hard chrome plating, and can have similar properties. Corrosion protection can exceed hard chrome.

Phosphate is a low temp, surface conversion process that etches the surface, allowing it to retain paint or lubricant. It has almost no corrosion protection by itself. Also, the surface is friable ( crushable ) providing good break in properties and self mating of parts.

[ddemis]

Thanks for the information. I had just recently noticed DS ARMS advertising nitride finish on several ar barrels they produce and had never heard of it.