Method of fabricating a nitrided low-alloy steel part

A method of fabricating a nitrided low-alloy steel part, the method comprising:

• a) decarburizing the surface of a low-alloy steel part including at least one alloying element that is both nitride-forming and carbide-forming in order to obtain a decarburized part presenting a carbon-depleted surface layer of thickness less than or equal to 1.5 mm, the minimum content of carbon by weight in the carbon-depleted surface layer being less than or equal to 70% of the carbon content by weight in the core of the decarburized part, and the minimum content of carbon by weight in the carbon-depleted surface layer being greater than or equal to 0.05%;
• b) treating the decarburized part with quenching treatment followed by annealing treatment;
• and
• c) nitriding the carbon-depleted surface layer in order to obtain a nitrided low-alloy steel part, step c) being performed after step b).