Heat-treatment practice abroad

Conclusions

In comparing the trends prevailing abroad in the field of heat treatment of steel and cast iron parts with the situation in the Soviet Union, it can be concluded that they are identical.

Mass production plants widely use induction heating in automatic stands; muffleless carburizing furnaces with controlled atmosphere have been developed and they gradually displace the muffle type. Carbonitriding sometimes replaces carburizing, and gas heating for hardening becomes widespread.

The new method of utilizing the forging heat for heat-treatment is very common and the application of austempering increases. Furnace atmospheres prepared in endothermic gas generators are controlled automatically.

It is necessary to increase the use of radiant heating and to build the appropriate furnaces not only for mass but for small-series production as well. The same also applies to equipment for automatic control of surface saturation with carbon. Installation for gas carburizing with induction heating must be improved and applied not only to gears but also to other parts. In this respect the Soviet Union is ahead of foreign countries.