A plug valve is disclosed having one or more components that are coated to reduce wear on the components. A plug of the valve may include a bore therethrough defined by an inner surface of the plug. The inner surface of the plug may include a nitride layer, such as a carbonitride layer. An outer surface of the plug may include both a nitride layer, in addition to a thermal spray coated layer, such as WC. The nitride layer may be formed by a ferritic nitrocarburizing process and the thermal spray coating may be formed by a high velocity air fuel (HVAF) or similar process. Inserts of the plug valve may also be coated by similar processes. An outer surface of the inserts may have a nitride layer and an inner surface of the inserts may have a nitride layer and a thermal spray coating.

A sliding member (1) includes an iron and steel-based sintered compact containing chromium, molybdenum, and carbon and having a content of chromium, of 5 mass % or less. The sliding member (1) includes: a compound layer (11) which has a sliding surface (1a) and is formed mainly of an iron and steel nitride; and a diffusion layer (12) which is adjacent to the compound layer (11) and has an iron and steel structure into which nitrogen and carbon diffuse. The concentrations of carbon and nitrogen in the diffusion layer (12) are gradually reduced with increasing depth from the sliding surface (1a).

A sliding member (1) includes an iron and steel-based sintered compact containing chromium, molybdenum, and carbon and having a content of chromium, of 5 mass % or less. The sliding member (1) includes: a compound layer (11) which has a sliding surface (1a) and is formed mainly of an iron and steel nitride; and a diffusion layer (12) which is adjacent to the compound layer (11) and has an iron and steel structure into which nitrogen and carbon diffuse. The concentrations of carbon and nitrogen in the diffusion layer (12) are gradually reduced with increasing depth from the sliding surface (1a).

A gripping tool for gripping oilfield tubulars includes a gripping element having a substrate, and at least one gripping surface configured to engage an oilfield tubular, the at least one gripping surface being formed on the gripping element. The at least one gripping surface includes a coating on an outer surface of the substrate, the coating includes a carrier and a plurality of particles at least partially embedded in the carrier. The particles each have a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the carrier and a base metal of the gripping element, and the particles extend outward from the carrier and are configured to engage a structure that is gripped by the gripping tool.

A gripping tool for gripping oilfield tubulars includes a gripping element having a substrate, and at least one gripping surface configured to engage an oilfield tubular, the at least one gripping surface being formed on the gripping element. The at least one gripping surface includes a coating on an outer surface of the substrate, the coating includes a carrier and a plurality of particles at least partially embedded in the carrier. The particles each have a hardness that is greater than a hardness of the carrier and a base metal of the gripping element, and the particles extend outward from the carrier and are configured to engage a structure that is gripped by the gripping tool.

The invention relates to a swashplate (5) for a swashplate compressor (1) comprising a main swashplate body (8), which is made from a sintering material, and to a method for producing the swashplate (5).

The present invention is a processing method for a metal component by using a processing furnace. The method includes the steps of: introducing an activation atmospheric gas into the processing furnace; heating the activation atmospheric gas in the processing furnace to a first temperature; introducing a nitriding atmospheric gas or a nitrocarburizing atmospheric gas into the processing furnace; and heating the nitriding atmospheric gas or the nitrocarburizing atmospheric gas in the processing furnace to a second temperature. The activation atmospheric gas is introduced into the processing furnace through a pipe for introducing the activation atmospheric gas. A liquid organic solvent is introduced intermittently a plurality of times into the pipe for introducing the activation atmospheric gas which is under a state wherein the activation atmosphere gas continues to be introduced.

The present invention is a processing method for a metal component by using a processing furnace. The method includes the steps of: introducing an activation atmospheric gas into the processing furnace; heating the activation atmospheric gas in the processing furnace to a first temperature; introducing a nitriding atmospheric gas or a nitrocarburizing atmospheric gas into the processing furnace; and heating the nitriding atmospheric gas or the nitrocarburizing atmospheric gas in the processing furnace to a second temperature. The activation atmospheric gas is introduced into the processing furnace through a pipe for introducing the activation atmospheric gas. A liquid organic solvent is introduced intermittently a plurality of times into the pipe for introducing the activation atmospheric gas which is under a state wherein the activation atmosphere gas continues to be introduced.

A method and a system for cooling treating metal parts exiting a nitriding/nitrocarburizing treatment in molten salt baths, comprising a cooling chamber in direct relation with a nitriding/nitrocarburizing station for receiving parts therefrom; a gaseous nitrogen feeding unit connected to the cooling chamber and configured to create an inert atmosphere within the cooling chamber; and a screened transfer path between the nitriding/nitrocarburizing station and the cooling chamber; wherein after exiting molten salt baths of the nitriding/nitrocarburizing station, the treated parts are transferred to the cooling chamber through the screened transfer path, and cooled therein to a minimum temperature above a temperature at which salts congeal.

A method and a system for cooling treating metal parts exiting a nitriding/nitrocarburizing treatment in molten salt baths, comprising a cooling chamber in direct relation with a nitriding/nitrocarburizing station for receiving parts therefrom; a gaseous nitrogen feeding unit connected to the cooling chamber and configured to create an inert atmosphere within the cooling chamber; and a screened transfer path between the nitriding/nitrocarburizing station and the cooling chamber; wherein after exiting molten salt baths of the nitriding/nitrocarburizing station, the treated parts are transferred to the cooling chamber through the screened transfer path, and cooled therein to a minimum temperature above a temperature at which salts congeal.