Carburizing is a thermochemical process that involves adding carbon to the surface of low carbon steels to increase their carbon content. This process is used to create a hard and wear-resistant layer on the surface of the steel, while keeping the interior soft and ductile. There are different types of carburizing processes that are commonly used.
Gas carburizing is one of the most common methods of carburizing. It involves using an endothermic or synthetic endothermic gas atmosphere, along with a hydrocarbon such as methane, propane, or butane, to increase the carbon potential. Air is also used to decrease the carbon potential. The carburizing process is dependent on time and temperature, with higher temperatures and longer times resulting in greater case thickness.
Another type of carburizing is vacuum carburizing, also known as low pressure carburizing (LPC). This process requires a highly reproducible and controllable atmosphere. It involves heating the steel parts to temperatures usually ranging from 900-1000°C in a carburizing atmosphere. The purpose of carburizing in this process is to enrich the surface layer with carbon, increasing its hardness and abrasion resistance while maintaining a malleable core. Vacuum carburizing has advantages over traditional carburizing, including the use of carburizing gases like acetylene and the absence of CO2 emissions.
Carbonitriding is a similar process to carburizing, but it involves diffusing both carbon and nitrogen into the surface of the parts. The addition of nitrogen increases the hardenability of the steel, allowing for the use of lower alloy and less expensive steels.
Pit carburizing is a specific carburizing process used for long and thin parts. In this process, the parts are suspended in a deep pit-type furnace for carburizing. This method minimizes distortion compared to laying the parts horizontally in a furnace.
Overall, carburizing is a process that involves adding carbon to the surface of steel to increase its hardness and wear resistance. The specific method used depends on factors such as the desired case thickness, the type of steel, and the equipment available.
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