Selective hardening

methods
CARBURISING
Carburising involves
impregnating the surface of
the steel with carbon to a
desired value.

The carbon content is usually is

1.25% after treatment and before it is
0.25%.
Process
The process involves heating of steel
above critical temperature for a
prolonged duration, the carbon penetrates
into the to form a solid solution on the
outer surface.
On the basis of carbon rich substance
used, case hardening process can be
classified in to

1.Solid or pack carburising

2.Gas carburising
3.Liquid carburising
This is a method of producing steel having tough
inner core and hard outer case.

Components such as pin gears, pistons and crank

shafts are hardened by this process. Case hardened
steels are capable of absorbing shock loads as well
as resisting wear and abrasion.
Nitriding

Nitriding is mot effective for those alloy steels which

contains stable nitride forming elements such as Al,

Cr, Mo, W. nitriding provides hardest

case of all surface hardening process.
Process
The process involves heating the steel to about 650C and holding in an
atmosphere of ammonia for some time. Anhydrous ammonia gas is
passed into the furnace at about 550C, where it dissociates to nitrogen and
hydrogen. The time varies from 21 to 100 hours, depending on the desired
case depth and size of the component. After nitriding the component is
allowed to cool in the furnace in the presence of ammonia.
Nitriding improves corrosion
resistance, provides very high
hardness

Nitriding is normally performed on

dies, mandrels, gauges etc.
Cyaniding

This is a special case hardening process in which the

mild steel absorbs carbon and nitrogen to
obtain hard surface.
Process
The parts to be treated are immersed in a liquid bath (800 – 960C) of
NaCN with the concentration varying between 25%- 90%. A measured
amount of air is passed through the molten bath. NaCN reacts with
oxygen in the air and is oxidized. Carbon and nitrogen then formed in
atomic form diffuse in to the steel and give high wear resistant layer of
carbonitride phase. Usually the process needs 30 -90 minute for
completion for obtaining a case depth of 0.5-2mm.
After cyaniding, the piece is taken out and quenched in water or oil. Final
operation is low temperature tempering.
Flame hardening

In this process some areas of a component is heated above

critical temperature by oxy acetylene flame and
simultaneously quenched by spraying water under pressure.
The depth of hardened case depends on the temperature of the
flame, its heating time, time elapsed between heating and cooling.
Advantages
Rapid process
Suitable for hardening large and bulky parts

Disadvantages
The depth of penetration is difficult to control
Only certain steel can be hardened by this method
Induction Hardening

By this process, one can get a hard and

wear resistant surface with a soft core in
steel. The process involves
induction heating using various
shapes of induction heating
coils.
The job to hardened is placed in an induction coil,
that comprises several turns of copper wire. A high
frequency current is passed through the copper block
this produces heating effect on the job surface.
Temperature produced is about 750 – 800C. The
heated surface is immediately quenched with spray
of water.
Advantages
Fast process
Irregular shapes can be handled
The thickness of case can be controlled more accurately

Disadvantages
The hardness depends on the carbon content in the steel.
Laser hardening
Laser beam hardening is a surface hardening process which is a variant of flame
hardening. A phosphate coating is applied over the steel component to facilitate
absorption of laser energy. The selected areas of the part are exposed to laser energy
causing the outer layer heated to about 900 – 1400 C. By varying the power of laser, the
depth of heat absorption can be controlled. The parts are then self quenched and
tempered.
Stain less steel
Stain less steel

Alloy steels which are highly resistant to corrosion and

oxidation are known as stainless steels.

Chromium is the chief alloying element of iron-base

stainless steels. Other elements such as nickel, molybdenum,
silicon, and manganese may be added to stainless steels to
improve the properties and corrosion resistance.
The various properties of stainless steels are

• Wide range of strength, hardness, and good creep

resistance

• High ductility and formability

• Good machinability and weldability

• Good thermal conductivity

Stainless steels are broadly classified in to three types according to their
micro structure.

• Ferritic stainless steels. (12 to 27% chromium. 0.08 to 0.2 % carbon)

• Martensitic stainless steels (12 to 18% chromium, 0.1 to 1.0 %

carbon)

• Austenitic stainless steels (16 to 24 % chromium 5 to 20% nickel

and less than 0.2 % carbon)
Ferritic stainless steels
Ferritic stainless steels contain 12 to 27% chromium and 0.08 to
0.2% carbon, These steels have excellent corrosion and oxidation
resistance.

They possess, good strength, ductility and ability to be worked (cold

or hot). They cannot be hardened by heat treatment.

When the carbon content is reduced below 0.09 % the alloy is

known as stainless iron and are preferred for high temperature
applications.
Applications

These steels are used for kitchen equipment,

diary and chemical industries and furnace parts
etc
Martensitic Stainless steels

Martensitic stainless steels possess 12 to 18% chromium

and 0.1 to 1% carbon.

They can be hardened by heat treatment, The

structure consists of hard martensite phase, after
hardening. These steels show remarkable resistance to
atmospheric corrosion and attack by corrosive agents
Applications

Due to hardness and corrosion resisting properties these steels

are widely used for cutlery, surgical instruments, ball
bearings, springs for high temperature applications, knives,
turbine blades etc.
Austenitic Stainless steels
These steels contain 16to 24% chromium 5 to 20% nickel and less than
0.2 % carbon. The structure of these steels consist of austenite at room
temperature.(Normally austenite is not
stable below 723 °C). This is the most important type of
stainless steel.

They posses high ductility, toughness, work hardening ability,

weldability, forgeability good corrosion resistance, and Superior high
temperature properties.
They are non magnetic.
They cannot be hardened by heat treatment.

The widely used stainless steel of this group is known as 18/8

stainless steel which consists of 18% chromium and
8% nickel.
Applications

They are used for the manufacture of decorative

components, jewellary, chemical and petroleum
equipment, car frames, appliances, utensils, food
processing equipment etc.
STEEL MAKING PROCESSES

Commercial process for steel making are

• Bessemer Process
• L-D Process
• Open hearth process
• Electric process
• Duplex Process
CODING OF STEELS
According to IS; 762 part I-1974, steel may be classified as

1.Steels designated on the basic of mechanical properties

2. Steels designated on the basis of chemical compositions .

One or more of the symbols are indicating the important characteristics

of steel.
1. Steels designated on the basis of
mechanical properties.
When the main criterion for the selection and inspection of steel is tensile or
yield stress, the carbon and low alloy steels are designated by this method.

1. Symbol Fe' when specified on the basis of minimum tensile strength.

2. Figure indicating the tensile strength in N/mm.

3. Chemical symbols for elements which influence the characteristics of steel

4. Symbol indicating special characteristics such as method of deoxidization, surface condition,

weldability, formability etc.
Examples

Fe 400 Cu-killed steel (K)

containing copper as alloying element with a minimum tensile
strength of 400N/mm Steels designated on the basis of
chemical composition
2. Steels designated on the basis of
chemical compositions.

a)Plain carbon steels (Unalloyed steels)

b)Carbon tool steels (un alloyed tool steels)

Plain carbon steels (Unalloyed steels)

Plain carbon steel is designated by

• Figure indicating 100 times the average percentage of carbon

followed by letter 'C‘

• Figure indicating 10 times the average percentage of manganese

content

• Symbol indicating special characteristics.

35C 10 G
steel with average 0.35 percent carbon, 1 percent manganese and
guaranteed hardenability
Carbon tool steels (un alloyed tool steels)

Carbon tool steels, are designated in the same

manner as in the case of plain carbon steels
except letter 'C is replaced by letter "T.
Low and medium alloy steels (steels
containing up (to 10% alloying elements)

These steels are designated by

• Figure indicating 100 times the average carbon percentage

• Chemical symbols for alloying elements each followed by the figure for its average percentage content
multiplied by a factor as given below

Element Multiplying factors

Cr, Ni, Mn, Si, & W 4
Mo, AL, V, Pb, Cu, Ti 10
P,S 100

• Symbol indicating special characteristics.

24 Cr 4 Mo2 G

steel containing average 0.24 carbon, 1 % chromium, 0.2 %

molybdenum and having very good hardenability
 High alloy steels. (Steel containing more
than 10% alloying elements)
These steels are designated by

• Letter X followed by hundred times the average percentage of carbon

• Chemical symbols for alloying elements each followed by the figure for its average
percentage content

• Symbol indicating special characteristics.

Example
X 12 Cr 18 Ni 8 S3

implies high alloy steel with 0.12 % C, 18 % Cr, 8 % Ni

and surface in pickled condition (S3)
Alloy tool steels
For low & medium alloy tool steels symbol T will be included in the
beginning of the designation explained above (for alloy
steels) and for high alloy tool steels use XT instead of 'X

XT 98 W6 Mo5 Cr 4 V1-implies

High alloy tool steel (XT) with 0.98 % C, 6% W, 5 % Mo,4

Cr &1%V
Symbols indicating special
characteristics are given in
IS 1762 (Part-17-1974).

Some examples are given below

Symbols for:
a, Method of deoxidisation
R-Rimmed steel
K-Killed steel
No symbol-Semi killed steel

(b) Sulphur & Phosphorus content

When maximum S and P content is same, No symbol-0.055 % P & and
0.055% S
P25 - 0.025 % P and 0.025 % S

(c)Weldabiility
W fusion weldable
Wr - weldable by resistance welding.

(d) Surface condition

No Symbol - As rolled or forged
S1-Scarfed
S2-De scaled
S3-Pickled
S4-Shot or sand blasted.