Steel for case hardening
The steels for case hardening have a relatively low carbon content, which generally ranges between 0.10% and 0.30%. As the name suggests, they are intended for case carburizing, i.e. a hardening process that unfolds in three heat treatment phases:
- Carburizing
- Quenching
- Tempering
This treatment has the purpose of diffusing carbon atoms on the surface of the steel parts. To enrich the surface layer with carbon, up to a content of about 0.8%, we rely on a process called diffusion. The characteristics of the innermost part of the material, on the other hand, are obtained through the last two stages of case carburizing, i.e. quenching and tempering.
Steel for case carburizing: the finished product and its characteristics
The finished product consists of a hard surface layer that resists wear, while the interior is softer.
These characteristics are fundamental for case hardening steels: in this way they, in fact, withstand impact stresses without breaking. In addition, these products have a very high wear resistance and are tenacious in depth.
The uses of case hardening steel
The main use of case hardening steels is in automotive engineering.
Thanks to the characteristics derived from the heat treatment that case hardening steels undergo, then, they are also used in plant engineering and mechanical engineering. In particular, we are referring to the construction of all those mechanical parts subject to wear. To give some examples, we mention gears, crowns and pinions, pins, bushings, camshafts, transmission and distribution shafts, as well as bolts, nuts and coupling parts.
Sideria products
The current reference standard is ISO 683-3, which replaced EN 10084.
