Pen nib with powder-gasphase diffusion layer

A nib for ink pens, comprising:

• an ink tube having opposite upper and lower ends and an inside opening defined therein between the upper and lower ends, the ink tube further having a lower end surface at the lower end for contacting a writing surface;
• and
• a cleaning wire guidably positioned in the inside opening of the ink tube and having a wire end surface for projecting by a predetermined distance beyond the lower end surface of the ink tube for contacting the writing surface;
• at least one of the lower end surface of the ink tube and the wire end surface of the cleaning wire comprising a powder-gasphase diffusion layer for hardening the end surface and for providing mechanical resistance.