Heat treatment 2 by
P.SENTHAMARAI KANNAN,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ,
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING,
KAMARAJ COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,
VIRUDHUNAGAR, TAMILNADU.
INDIA.
2. Case hardening
Low carbon steels cannot be hardened by heating due to
the small amounts of carbon present.
Case hardening seeks to give a hard outer skin over a softer
core on the metal.
The addition of carbon to the outer skin is known as
carburising.
3. Advantages of case hardening :
Less distortion compared to through hardening steel
Fatigue properties of a part can be controlled and frequently
improved
Relatively inexpensive steel can be given wear-resisting properties
which would be normally attained through the use of more highly
alloyed and more expensive steels
Hardening of the surface of steels which cannot be normally capable
of being hardened to a high degree by altering the surface
composition
Combination of case and core properties can be attained that are not
possible with conventional hardening treatment
.
4. Scaling and decarburisation are minimized during surface
hardening, offering advantages in producing machined parts
Can be applied to very large parts, which due to very large mass
or because of danger of cracking would be impractical to harden,
by conventional heating and quenching Selected area can be
hardened on any sized place that are difficult with conventional
heating and quenching
High surface hardness, improve resistance to wear and galling,
improve fatigue life, improve corrosion resistance (stainless steel is
an exception)
6. CO2 + C ---> 2 CO
Reaction of Cementite to Carbon Monoxide:
2 CO + 3 Fe --->Fe3C + CO2
7. Pack carburising
The component is packed
surrounded by a carbon-rich
compound and placed in the
furnace at 900 degrees.
Over a period of time carbon
will diffuse into the surface of
the metal.
The longer left in the furnace,
the greater the depth of hard
carbon skin. Grain refining is
necessary in order to prevent
cracking.
8. Pack carburising
This process is the simplest and earliest carburising
process.
The process involves placing the components to be
treated in metal containers with the caburising
mixture, based on powdered charcoal and 10%
barium carbonate, packed around the components.
The containers are then heated to a constant
temperature (850 oC to 950 oC)for a time period to
ensure an even temperature throughout and
sufficient to enable the carbon to diffuse into the
surface of the components to sufficient depth.
:
9. Salt bath carburising. A molten salt bath (sodium
cyanide, sodium carbonate and sodium chloride) has
the object immersed at 900 degrees for an hour giving
a thin carbon case when quenched.
Gas carburising. The object is placed in a sealed
furnace with carbon monoxide allowing for fine control
of the process.
Nitriding. Nitrides are formed on a metal surface in a
furnace with ammonia gas circulating at 500 degrees
over a long period of time (100 hours). It is used for
finished components.
11. Limitations of Pack Carburising
It is difficult to control case depths of less than 0,6mm
The normal case depths produced are 0.25mm to 6mm
Poor control of surface carbon content and inability to
produce close tolerances of case depth are disadvantages
and is seldom used now a days.
12. Liquid Carburising
This process is mostly used for producing shallow case depths in thin
sections.
The components are heated in a bath containing a suitable mix of sodium
cyanide salts and sodium carbonate.
The normal case depths for this process are about 0,25 to 0.5mm with bath
strengths of 20% to 30% NaCN. High bath strengths 40% to 50% NaCN are
required for case depths of 0,5mm and above.
13. Liquid Carburising
The case resulting from this process includes carbon
and nitrogen.Which makes this process ideal for low
carbon sheet metal pressed and machined
components.
This process normally works with bath temperatures
of 800oC to 930oC for immersion times from 2 to 7
hours depending on the depth required.
However the disposal problems in eliminating the
solid waste & wash water have made this process
not environmental friendly and is becoming obsolete.
14. Gas Carburising
Gas carburising is very popular and widely used for case depths ranging
from 0.2 mm to 3 mm.
Possible to achieve narrow bands of case depth requirements.
Good Repeatability of end results possible
Different Furnaces and atmospheres are used to suit the end requirements
of the product and cost impact.
15. Carbonitriding
Carbo nitriding is the variation of Carburising where
nitrogen is additionally introduced into the surface
along with carbon.
This achieved by passing Ammonia along with
regular gases up to 5% of the Total volume of
gases used for carburising
Ammonia breaks and gives necessary source of
Nitrogen
Carbonitriding is done at temperatures of 830-890
oC and is used for case depths ranging from 0.1
mm to 0.7 mm.
16. CARBO NITRIDING
GAS NITRIDING
The nitrogen source - Ammonia (NH3).
At the nitriding temperature the
ammonia dissociates into Nitrogen and
Hydrogen. 2NH3 ---> 2N + 3H2
18. Induction hardening
Induced eddy currents
heat the surface of the
steel very quickly and is
quickly followed by jets
of water to quench the
component.
A hard outer layer is
created with a soft core.
The slideways on a
lathe are induction
hardened.
20. Flame hardening
Gas flames raise the
temperature of the
outer surface above the
upper critical temp. The
core will heat by
conduction.
Water jets quench the
component.
21. Age hardening
Hardening over a period of time
Also known as precipitation hardening
Occurs in duraluminium which is an aluminium alloy that
contains 4% copper. This makes this alloy very useful as it is
light yet reasonably hard and strong, it is used in the space
industry.
The metal is heated and soaked (solution treatment) then
cooled and left.
23. Optical pyrometer
Also known as
‘disappearing filament’.
The light intensity of a
lamp, which can be
adjusted, is compared
to the light from a
furnace.
Temperature is
measured when the
filament seems to
disappear in the glow
from the furnace.
24. Thermo-electric pyrometer
A thermocouple uses the
principle that a small
current flows if two
dissimilar metals are
joined in a loop with
different temperatures at
the junctions.
A galvanometer at the
cold junction detects a
change in current at the
hot junction in the furnace
25. Vacuum hardening
Why vacuum hardening?
Development of vacuum concept for heat treatment
26. Process details
1. evacuation of the furnace is started and vacuum level of better than 1X
10-3 mbar is achieved.
2. heating of the furnace starts when the vacuum level of 1.33X10-1 mbar
is reached..
3. Heating cycle
Room Temperature
|10ºC/min
650ºC -120 mts soaking at furnace temperature
|10ºC/min
850ºC-120mts
|5ºC/min
1000ºC-60mts
|5ºC/min
1100ºC-60mts
|
1170ºC-30mts
|5ºC/min
1250ºC-30min
Note:- partial pressure of 4X10-1 mbar is maintained above 800ºC
4. Cooling cycle
28. Benefits
1. Optimum hardening
2. Distortion and crack free hardening of the workload.
3. Absence of oxidation, decarburization or carburization on
the surface of work piece.
4. Reduced or no post-hardening and finished costs.
5. Prevent surface reaction such as oxidation or decarburizing
on work pieces thus retaining a clean surface intact.
6. Remove surface contaminants such as oxide films and
residual traces of lubricants resulting from other operations.
29. Disadvantages
1. Cost for hardening increases.
2. The components are to be thoroughly cleaned before
hardening in vacuum furnace
31. Vacuum furnaces
TYPES OF VACUUM FURNACE
Vacuum furnaces can be grouped into one of the three
basic designs
I. Top loading furnaces.
II. Bottom loading furnaces.
III. Horizontal loading furnaces.
34. Main parts of vacuum furnace
FURNACE VESSEL
HEATING ELEMENT
INSULATION
PUMPING SYSTEM
35. Vacuum measuring and
control
Hot filament ionization gauge
Pirani gauge
Cooling system:
The following media with increasing intensity oheat
transfer are used for the cooling of components.
1. Vacuum.
2. Stagnant gas (Ar, N2).
3. Agitated recirculating gas (Ar, N2).
4. Agitated recirculating gas at pressure
(Ar, N2, He)
37. Plasma Nitriding
1. Introduction
Plasma nitriding, known also as ion nitriding is a form of case hardening
process.
It is an extension of conventional nitriding process, utilizing plasma discharge
physic to diffuse nitrogen into the surface of a ferrous alloy.
Plasma nitriding can be further branched out into plasma nitrocarburising.
In this process, carbon together with nitrogen was introduced into the metal
surface.
The harden case, which is the nitriding layer is commonly known as
‘diffused case’ or ‘diffusion zone’.
38. Plasma nitriding is achieved using a D.C glow discharge technology, whereby
the nitrogen gas inside the furnace is converted into nitrogen ions and
absorbed by the metal.
Molecular nitrogen is first broken into atomic nitrogen through direct plasma
dissociation.
N2 + e- → N + N + e-
Atomic nitrogen is then further converted into nitrogen ion through plasma
ionization N + e- → N+ + 2e-
The nitrogen ion, N+, will then diffuse into the metal surface as finely
dispersed nitrides, imparting high hardness to the surface.
Thus, case hardening is achieved.
Plasma Nitriding
39. In Plasma nitriding process, the job part and the cathode inside the furnace will be
emitting a purple glow.
This is because voltages had dropped sharply at these regions.
This provided a large amount of discharged energy, which causes the cathode and
job part to glow.
Plasma Nitriding Process
40. Advantages for utilizing plasma nitriding
Ability to automate the system which gives good reproducibility of results
Shorter cycle time , No environmental hazard ,improve control of case depth
Ability to select the compound layer type to suit the required usage
Good friction, wear, and fatigue properties
High hardness of the treated surface
Flexibility to nitride stainless steels, titanium alloys
Possibility to lower nitriding temperature and to limit distortion
43. Pack carburising
This process is the simplest and earliest carburising
process.
The process involves placing the components to be
treated in metal containers with the caburising
mixture, based on powdered charcoal and 10%
barium carbonate, packed around the components.
The containers are then heated to a constant
temperature (850 oC to 950 oC)for a time period to
ensure an even temperature throughout and
sufficient to enable the carbon to diffuse into the
surface of the components to sufficient depth.
:
44. Limitations of Pack Carburising
It is difficult to control case depths of less than 0,6mm
The normal case depths produced are 0.25mm to 6mm
Poor control of surface carbon content and inability to
produce close tolerances of case depth are disadvantages
and is seldom used now a days.
45. Liquid Carburising
This process is mostly used for producing shallow case depths in thin
sections.
The components are heated in a bath containing a suitable mix of sodium
cyanide salts and sodium carbonate.
The normal case depths for this process are about 0,25 to 0.5mm with bath
strengths of 20% to 30% NaCN. High bath strengths 40% to 50% NaCN are
required for case depths of 0,5mm and above.
46. Liquid Carburising
The case resulting from this process includes carbon
and nitrogen.Which makes this process ideal for low
carbon sheet metal pressed and machined
components.
This process normally works with bath temperatures
of 800oC to 930oC for immersion times from 2 to 7
hours depending on the depth required.
However the disposal problems in eliminating the
solid waste & wash water have made this process
not environmental friendly and is becoming obsolete.
47. Gas Carburising
Gas carburising is very popular and widely used for case depths ranging
from 0.2 mm to 3 mm.
Possible to achieve narrow bands of case depth requirements.
Good Repeatability of end results possible
Different Furnaces and atmospheres are used to suit the end requirements
of the product and cost impact.