The Ionit Ox^® process offers significant advantages over conventional chromium plating. Neither the coating process nor the subsequent disposal of components is harmful to the environment. Furthermore, components coated using the Ionit Ox process can be remelted like other scrap metal. The thermochemical process, which is patented by the Sulzer Metco subsidiary Sulzer Metaplas, is a combination of gas nitrocarburizing, plasma activation, and oxidation. The gas nitrocarburizing process creates an iron-nitride primary layer consisting of a diffusion and a compound layer as a result of the chemical reaction between the process gases. The Ionit Ox technology controls this chemical reaction and promotes the growth of a pure e compound layer. Plasma activation stabilizes the nitride layer and facilitates the strong bonding of the oxide layer created in the oxidation step. Applications for this coating include simple joining elements, a wide variety of automotive parts, and complex hydraulic components, e.g., pumps and cylinders.