Case hardening is a heat treatment process used to selectively harden the surface of a metal, usually low-carbon steel. The goal is to create a part with the following qualities:
Hard, wear-resistant surface: This outer layer offers superior resistance to scratches, abrasion, denting, and fatigue caused by repetitive stress.
Tough, ductile core: The inner core maintains higher ductility and toughness, providing the part with the ability to absorb impacts and resist deformation without breaking.
Benefits of Case Hardening
Enhanced Wear Resistance: The hardened surface dramatically improves resistance to abrasion, scratches, and indentation.
Improved Fatigue Strength: Case hardening helps prevent cracks from forming and propagating under repetitive stress and loads, extending the part's lifespan.
Maintains Core Toughness: Unlike through hardening, the core remains relatively soft, providing shock resistance and preventing catastrophic brittle fractures.
Cost-Effective: It's often more cost-efficient to case harden a low-carbon, less expensive steel than to use a high-carbon steel for the entire component.
Machining Considerations
Hardened outer surface will increase tool wear on O.D. Turning operations such as parting, grooving, facing.
Recommend use of specialised turning inserts (e.g. CBN Tipped inserts)
Singapore