Case Hardening

Heat Treatment

Определение

A group of thermochemical processes that increase the hardness and wear resistance of the surface layer of a component while leaving the core tough and ductile. Common methods include carburizing, nitriding, and carbonitriding.

Подробное объяснение

In carburizing, low-carbon steel parts are exposed to a carbon-rich atmosphere at 850–950°C, allowing carbon to diffuse into the surface to a depth of 0.5–3 mm, after which the part is quenched to form a hard martensitic case. Nitriding introduces nitrogen at 500–550°C without requiring a subsequent quench, producing a very hard surface with minimal distortion. Case-hardened gears, camshafts, and bearing races exploit this combination of surface hardness and core toughness.