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Abstract
In this paper the processes occurring at the plasma–cathode interface (carbon absorption and sputtering) which are responsible for the structure of the compound layer (CL) are discussed in conjunction with the ternary Fe–N–C phase diagram. The influence of the gas composition, including oxygen, on the development of the CL is also investigated. Based on the mechanisms of plasma nitrocarburising described in this paper a technique to produce CLs with a structure close to epsilon monophase was developed and applied to plain carbon steels.