Advances in Carburizing — Vacuum Carburizing

Abstract

Steel components having appropriate combinations of wear resistance, mechanical strength, impact strength, etc., especially at higher temperatures (above 500°F) can be produced by employing the well-known conventional carburizing process or a suitably modified process. In carburizing a carbon-rich layer ranging from ~.005 inch to more than ~.100 inch is produced on some or all of the surfaces of a relatively low carbon component. By suitable post-carburizing treatment the carbon-rich layer can be caused to be quite hard (> 60 Rc) but also relatively brittle while the low carbon interior (< 35 RQ) retains adequate strength and ductility.