Transformation of Austenite

γ-Fe

Pearlite Martensite Bainite

Austenite Pearlite
 R. Martens

Austenite Martensite

Furnace

Water Bucket
Martensite
Martensite
Hardness of Martensite
Austenite Bainite

Ferrite Fe3C

Feathery appearance
T-T-T Diagram
T-T-T Diagram

Pearlite

Bainite

Martensite

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Mechanical Property
 Case Hardening:Gears

Worm Gears
Spur Gears
Bevel Gears

Sproket

Helical Gears
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 Fatigue Failure of Gears
Tooth failed!

Scars on worm wheel surface!

Internal surface cracked!
 Case Hardening of Gears

™Carburizing 

™Nitriding 

™Carbo‐nitriding
 Carburizing
Carburizing is a process of adding Carbon to the 
surface. This is done by exposing the part to a 
Carbon rich atmosphere at an elevated 
temperature and allows diffusion to transfer the 
Carbon atoms into steel.
 Carburizing Process
Heat the gears to 850 ‐9500 C

Burn some carbonaceous gas
(CH4 ,  C2H6 C3H8  in O2 )

CH4 + 3/2O2 ↔ CO +2H2O

2CO ↔ CO2 + C ↔ Diffuse ↔ Fe3C

 Carburizing

•Gas carburizing

•Plasma carburizing

•Salt bath carburizing

•Pack carburizing
Carburizing: Case Depth
 Nitriding
Nitriding is a surface-hardening heat treatment that introduces nitrogen into the surface
of steel at a temperature range (500 to 550°C), while it is in the ferrite condition.
Thus, nitriding is similar to carburizing in that surface composition is altered, but
different in that nitrogen is added into ferrite instead of austenite

Plasma Nitriding
 Carbo‐nitriding Process
Carbonitriding is a modified form of gas carburizing, rather than a
form of nitriding. The modification consists of introducing ammonia
into the gas carburizing atmosphere to add nitrogen to the
carburized case as it is being produced.
Induction Hardening
Precipitation Hardening
Widely used in aluminum‐copper alloys

Courtesy: Boeing
 Precipitation Hardening Process

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κ+θ
Precipitation Hardening Process
 Precipitation Hardening Microstructure

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