atmospheric carburizing
what is carburizing?
Carburizing is a thermochemical process used to harden tools and components made of steel with a low carbon content. The surface area of a component is deliberately and specifically enriched with carbon. However, the remaining area remains untreated and therefore soft or tough after the quenching process, depending on the material used. The carburized surface layer can then be hardened by a quenching process.
carburizing process
A distinction is made between the following case hardening processes:
- Direct hardening
- Single hardening
- Double hardening
- Hardening after isothermal transformation
- Carbonitriding
carburizing agents
The following media are used for the atmospheric carburizing of ferrous materials:
- endogas
- propane
- methanol
- ethanol
- acetylene
benefits of carburization
Case hardening (carburizing) is an important process within the different heat treatment processes that offers a variety of advantages to improve the mechanical properties of workpieces.
Some of these benefits are as follows:
- Extending the service life of parts: Case-hardened (carburized) parts have a longer service life compared to untreated components, which can reduce maintenance and replacement costs.
- Cost efficiency: Case hardening (carburizing) can be more cost-effective than producing parts from high-alloy steel or other expensive materials to achieve the required hardness and wear resistance properties.
- Improved wear resistance: Case hardened (carburized) parts are more resistant to wear and abrasion, making them ideal for applications where friction and abrasion occur.
- Increased flexural strength: Case hardening (carburizing) results in increased flexural strength of the material, making it more resistant to bending stresses.
suitable metals for carburization
The materials that are most frequently used for case hardening (carburizing/carbonitriding) include
- Unalloyed carbon steels
- Alloyed steels
application of carburization in various industries
Case hardening is not dependent on a specific industry, but on the selection of the material used and the mechanical properties to be set. The process is very frequently used in the industries listed below:
- Automotive industry
- Mechanical engineering
- Toolmaking
- Electrical engineering
- Agricultural engineering
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frequently asked questions – carburization
What is the tempering of steel?
Tempering is a process for the targeted heat treatment of materials, through which the properties of the component can be specifically and deliberately influenced. The process is particularly suitable for reducing stresses in the material. Hardened steel becomes softer the higher it is tempered. At the same time, the loss of hardness is offset by the increased toughness of the material.
Which steels are suitable for carburization?
All unalloyed and low-alloy steels are suitable for atmospheric case hardening. The carbon content of the material should not exceed 0.25 % in order to achieve a sufficient hardening gradient between the surface and core areas.
Are there alternative heat treament methods to carburization?
As an alternative to case hardening (carburizing), the nitriding and nitrocarburizing processes can also be used for suitable materials.
What conditions are crucial for a successful carburization?
It is particularly important that the surface of components is cleaned of any contamination (oils, greases, emulsions, corrosion protection products) to ensure trouble-free diffusion of carbon atoms into the component surface. In addition, the furnace atmosphere must contain carbon-emitting media.
How does carburization differ from other heat treatment processes?
In case hardening (carburizing), the component surface is chemically modified by the diffusion of carbon compared to the classic hardening process. In addition, during case hardening, the surface area should have a higher hardness compared to the core area.
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