Carburizing

Carburizing is a method of increasing the carbon content of the surface of low-carbon steel through absorption and diffusion.  It is done to prepare the steel for quench hardening.  Steel is heated above its upper critical temperature in the presence of carbon to allow it to absorb into the metal to the desired depth.

Process Characteristics

Is applied to low-carbon workpieces
Workpieces are in contact with a high-carbon gas, liquid, or solid
Produces a hard workpiece surface
Workpiece cores largely retain their toughness and ductility
Produces case hardness depths of up to 0.25 in.

BACK

Information provided is from Manufacturing Processes Reference Guide by Robert H. Todd, Dell K. Allen, and Leo Alting.--1st ed. Published by Industrial Press Inc., 1994.