Case-hardening and Nitriding Steels

Case hardening is understood to be hardening following prior carburisation of the skin of a work piece. Carburising and also nitrogenising in solid, liquid or gaseous media is performed at temperatures between 850 - 930C following forming and machining after which hardening takes place. The carburised layer assumes a content of 0.7 to 1 % C and a surface hardness of 59 to 67 HRC. Case hardening is used where the aim is to achieve a hard surface resistant to wear and fatigue (higher fatigue strength), but where the transition and the low-lying core should have good ductility and high notch impact strength with improved strength. Nitration is understood to be the treatment of steel surfaces in media giving off nitrogen at temperatures below the Ac1 point to achieve a surface enriched with nitrogen. Nitriding steels are steels that are particularly suitable for nitration due to the nitride formers contained within them. Chromium-containing steels that are alloyed with aluminium for increased special nitride formation are primarily considered as materials. To some extent they also exhibit molybdenum and nickel. The nitrided surface layers (approx 0.05 to 0.5 mm) are very hard even without quenching (approx. 750 to 900 HV) and wear-resistant, i.e. they provide resistance to sliding abrasion that is better than in case-hardened parts.

Welding of Case-hardened and Nitriding Steels

For welds in the surface area of case-hardened or nitrided parts it is first necessary to remove a sufficiently large area of the carburised or nitrided layer by grinding. However, it seems advisable to weld prior to case hardening or nitration. Filler metals similar in alloy composition to the parent metal must be used if the welds are also intended to be nitridable. Otherwise filler metals corresponding to the mechanical properties of the parent metal not subjected to surface treatment should be used. Basic electrodes are to be preferred. The preheat temperature must be matched to the steels hardenability.

Bhler Schweitechnik Austria GmbH. - Mat-Case hardenening Steels.doc

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