A steady state economy is an economy with stable or mildly fluctuating size. The term typically refers to a national economy, but it can also be applied to a local, regional, or global economy. An economy can reach a steady state after a period of growth or after a period of downsizing or degrowth. To be sustainable, a steady state economy may not exceed ecological limits.
Noun. 1. nitride-a compound containing nitrogen and a more electropositive element (such as phosphorus or a metal). chemical compound, compound - (chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight.
The purpose of nitriding is to enrich the surface layer of a work piece with nitrogen in order to increase the hardness in the surface. The process of nitriding takes advantage of the low solubility of nitrogen in the ferritic crystal structure to promote the precipitation of iron nitrides or alloy nitrides.