CARBURIZING

Carburizing is one of the most widely used surface hardening
processes. The process involves diffusing carbon into a low
carbon steel alloy to form a high carbon steel surface.
Most steels specified for carburizing contain less than 0.25
percent carbon, with sufficient alloys to improve case and core
hardenability. Depending on the application, any of numerous
grades may be used:
 Type 4620 Steel - Lower cost chrome/nickel/molybdenum
steel where only nominal hardenability and core response
is required.
 Type 8620 Steel - Most commonly specified grade. Excellent
carburizing response with good hardenability for most
section sizes.
 Type 4320 Steel - Higher hardenability for improved core
response in heavier sections.
 Type 4820 Steel - Increased nickel content for improved core
toughness; slower response results in longer process times.
 Type 9310 Steel - Maximum nickel content for maximum
core toughness; slower response results in longer
process times.
Though plain carbon steels may be carburized, the lack of
alloying elements reduces the carburizing response of the case.
These steels respond better to the Carbonitriding process.
The carburizing process is typically specified by a case depth
and a surface hardness. Typically, the surface is specified at
Rockwell C 58 to 62 (or equivalent), with other hardnesses
occasionally specified for special applications. Carburized case
depth is typically specified to an “effective” hardness, or the
depth where a specified hardness is obtained, generally
Rockwell C 50. The effective hardness is determined by
preparing a metallographic sample from either the product or
a representative test bar of the material and then testing the
microhardness at various depths.
The response of a particular steel to carburizing is dependent
on the diffusion of carbon into the steel; the depth of
penetration is controlled by temperature and time. The most
typical carburizing temperature is 1750 F, although lower
temperatures may be used to reduce distortion or improve
control of the case depth tolerance. The disadvantage of
reducing temperature is that the time necessary to achieve the
specified case is increased. In all cases, the carbon
diffused into the steel is provided by a carbon rich
gaseous environment.
After carburizing, the work is either slow-cooled for later
quench hardening, or quenched directly into various liquid
quenches. Quench selection is made to achieve the optimum
properties with acceptable levels of dimensional change.
Hot oil quenching is preferred for minimal distortion, but
may be limited in application by the strength requirements
for the product.
When maximum properties are required, cold oil quenching
may be specified with some sacrifice in distortion.
When both maximizing quench response and dimensional
control is required, die quenching is an option. The part is
quenched in cold oil in a special fixture under a clamping load
to hold critical dimensions.
In some cases, it may be desirable to have the benefits of a
carburized surface in only certain areas of the part. For these
applications, a carburizing stop-off can be applied to the areas
to be protected. The stopped-off, or localized, areas will remain
carbon free and relatively soft. The paint is removed through
normal processing in the heat treatment operation.
Treat All Metals specializes in quality heat treating and our
carburizing capabilities are no exception. Our process
equipment is certified to ensure accurate control of the
carburizing variables, utilizing the best control equipment
available. We have capabilities to harden in a variety of
quenches, including our rotary die quench facility for close
dimensional control.
Our auxiliary equipment includes capacity for deep freezing
to control retained austenite, straightening, blasting and
magnetic particle inspection. Our Quality Control Metallurgical
Lab is well equipped to test your product to your most
exacting requirements. When necessary, all process steps
and inspections can be certified or substantiated
with documentation.
Finally, our experience in successfully applying the gas
carburizing process to a wide variety of products will allow us
to help recommend the best process for your application.

Case depths from as light as Application Depth of Case

0.003in. to as deep as
0.250in. may be specified,
depending on the service
requirements of the product.
High wear resistance, low to moderate loading; Small and
delicate machine parts subject to wear Cases to 0.020in.
High wear resistance, moderate to heavy loading;
Light industrial gearing 0.020in. to 0.040in.

High wear resistance, heavy loading, crushing loads or

high magnitude alternating bending stresses;
Heavy duty industrial gearing 0.040in. to 0.060in.

High wear resistance, shock resistance, high crushing

loads-Bearing surfaces, mill gearing, rollers 0.060in. to 0.250in.
CARBONITRIDING
Carbonitriding is a lower cost surface hardening process
that provides a thin, high hardness case on lower
hardenability steels. The process imparts wear resistance
and improvements in strength. Because the core properties
are lower, the process is not suitable for applications with
high bearing loads; for this type of application, the
Carburizing process is better suited.
Carbonitriding involves the diffusion of both carbon and
nitrogen into the base steel. The carbon provides the base
metal with a high carbon surface, and the nitrogen provides
the case with an added boost of hardenability to insure
full case hardness. The addition of nitrogen makes the
carbonitriding process especially suited to plain, low
carbon steel that would not otherwise respond to
standard carburizing.
The type of steel used for a product
to be carbonitrided depends primarily
on the fabrication method.
 Stampings - The plain carbon steel grades, AISI 1010
through 1020, are most often used for stamping
applications. These grades have a high degree of
ductility to enhance the fabrication of the product,
and are readily carbonitrided. Grades with lower
carbon levels, through AISI 1008, though readily
formed, can create control problems in heat
treatment because of their lower hardenability.
If required for maximum formability, it is suggested
that carbon levels be held as high as possible 0.07
percent minimum.
 Machined Products - The same plain carbon steels
used for Stampings are often used for machined
products, and are readily carbonitrided. An
additional option is the use of resulfurized, free
machining steels, such as AISI 1117. The higher
sulfur content significantly enhances machining and
the steels respond well to the carbonitriding process.
 Specialty Materials - Carbonitriding can be used to
impart a hard wear resistant case on a wide variety
of materials for special applications. These include
powdered metal parts, cast irons, as well as other
steel grades used to provide a particular balance of
core and surface properties.
Carbonitrided cases are typically limited to relatively shallow
depths, generally less than 0.030in., most often less than
0.015in. The primary purpose of carbonitriding is to impart
a hard, wear resistant case on the part. Nitrogen diffused
into the part with the carbon provides superior hardenability
to develop the high hardness case. Carbonitrided cases are
also slightly more resistant to softening at slightly elevated
temperatures than carburized cases.
The shallower case and typically lower core hardness
resulting from carbonitriding are not ideal for high bearing
loads; carburizing is better suited for these applications.
Carbonitrided cases are typically specified in terms of either
“total” of “effective” case, depending on the case depth
required. Shallow cases, to depths of about 0.010in., are
best evaluated as total case, or the depth of the etched case
on a mounted microspecimen. Deeper cases can be
evaluated to an effective depth, or the depth to a specified
hardness, generally RC 50. Surface hardness after
carbonitriding is specified as “file hard” (resistant to a file
run across the carbonitrided surface) for shallow cases, or
a specified hardness using a superficial Rockwell hardness
scale when heavier carbonitrided cases are specified.
The key variables in carbonitriding are time, temperature,
and the process environment. Temperatures are typically
maintained at 1475 F to 1650 F to insure control of the
diffusion process. The higher process temperatures would be
used for deeper case specifications. Lower temperatures may
be used regardless of case depth requirements to reduce
distortion. Time at the processing temperature is controlled
to insure the proper development of the specified case.
The process environment is provided by the introduction
of methane (for carbon) and ammonia (for nitrogen) to the
furnace, in the presence of a controlled carrier gas. By
maintaining the proper ratios of the working gases, the
processed parts are provided with a thin skin of carbon and
nitrogen rich steel.
After carbonitriding, the work is quenched to achieve the
full case hardness. Careful consideration of the quench is
required because parts are typically used without subsequent
grinding operations. Quenching is most often done in oil
with oil temperatures selected to achieve the optimum
properties with acceptable levels of dimensional change.
Hot oil quenching can be used to minimize distortion of
intricate parts. Final cleaning with light blast provides a part
ready for service.
Treat All Metals specializes in quality heat treating, and our
carbonitriding capabilities are no exception. Our process
equipment is certified to ensure accurate control of the
carbonitriding variables, utilizing the best control equipment
available. We have capabilities to harden in a variety of
quenches to balance the best combination of properties
and dimensional control. We can incorporate your gaging
in our operations to help insure ready to use parts as you
receive them.
Our Quality Control Metallurgical Lab is well equipped to
test your product to your most exacting requirements.
When necessary, all process steps and inspections can be
certified or substantiated with documentation.
Our technical expertise can also assist you in selecting and
successfully applying the best surface hardening process for
your application.
NITRIDING
Nitriding is a highly specialized surface hardening treatment
that produces a thin but high hardness case on a wide variety
of steels. The significant advantage of nitriding over other
surface hardening processes is that the case hardness is
developed without quenching and the attendant distortion
problems. Finishing operations can be eliminated or held
to a minimum.
Nitrided surfaces are highly wear resistant and provide anti-
galling properties. Fatigue life is improved, and the process
improves the corrosion resistance of the part. An additional
advantage of nitriding is that the surface hardness is resistant
to softening by temperatures up to the process temperature.
The nitriding process involves the diffusion of nitrogen into
the base steel. This diffusion takes place at relatively low
temperatures (typical process temperature is 975 F) and the
hardening occurs without quenching. Core properties are not
affected by the nitriding process provided the final tempering
temperature for the product was higher than the nitriding
process temperature.
Although a wide variety of steels can be nitrided, three are
most commonly used:
 AISI 4140 - Most commonly used low alloy steel for nitriding
applications, the combination of alloy and carbon allows
core hardnesses of RC 28-32 developed by quenching
and tempering at temperatures exceeding the nitriding
process temperature.
 AISI 4340 - This higher alloy steel is used when higher core
hardnesses (to RC 39) or heavier sections require higher
hardenability steel.
 Nitralloy - This group of steels, specifically designed for
nitriding, may be quenched and tempered to typical core
hardnesses of RC 20-25. The advantage of the nitralloy
steels is their high response to nitriding and the very high
(RC 62-65 equivalent) surface hardnesses that result.
Regardless of the steel used for nitriding, one of these two methods
is recommended for heat treating:
Method 1 For Minimal Distortion
 Quench and temper stock to
specified core hardness
 Rough machine
 Stress relieve
 Finish machine
 Nitride
 Lap or lightly grind as necessary
Typical nitrided case depths are .010in. to 020in. Deeper case
depths are possible but require significantly longer cycles
because of the slow diffusion rate of nitrogen into steel.
Case depth is generally specified as total case determined by
etching a mounted microspecimen, or as the depth at which a
specified hardness is obtained. The case depth hardness should
be specified in terms of the actual core hardness (e.g., “case
depth at 110 percent of core” or “core hardness plus 3 RC”)
as the hardness gradient in a nitrided part depends heavily on
the prior hardness.
A typical by-product of nitriding is the white layer, a thin layer
of extremely hard iron nitride. Although this, layer is not
objectionable if it is kept thin, some specifications do require its
removal. The white layer is minimized by using two stage
nitriding, called the Floe Process. Using this process, a white
layer less than 0.0006in. may be maintained.
In the event certain areas of a component must be kept soft,
this can be readily accomplished by means of a special
protective paint.
Treat All Metals specializes in quality heat treating and our
nitriding capabilities are no exception. Our process equipment
is certified to ensure accurate control of the nitriding process.
We have full capabilities of providing quench and temper
and stress relieving operations prior to nitriding to insure
your product is heat treated at the necessary temperatures
to withstand the nitriding operation without softening
or distortion.
Our Quality Control Metallurgical Lab is well equipped to test
your product to your most exacting requirements. When
necessary, all process steps and inspections can be certified or
substantiated with documentation.
Our experience with the nitriding process can assist you in
selecting and successfully applying the processing sequence
best suited to your product.
Method 2 For Maximum Machinability
 Rough machine
 Quench and temper to
specified core hardness
 Finish machine
 Nitride
 Lap or lightly grind as necessary
TRINIDING

The Triniding process is a specialty surface hardening process

especially suited for producing a very thin, wear resistant
surface on ferrous materials. Triniding produces a hard, wear
resistant outer layer of iron nitride to provide improved wear
and galling resistance with a thin diffusion layer which
provides an increase in fatigue strength. The process also
imparts some corrosion resistance to the product.
The process is especially suited to wear applications in which
a lower strength, more ductile core is acceptable. Because
the case is thin, the process is not suited to applications
where bearing loads are high; these applications require a
deeper case hardening process, such as nitriding,
carbonitriding, or carburizing.
In Triniding, the product is exposed to an atmosphere of
ammonia and nitrogen. The ammonia reacts to provide
nitrogen to the ferrous part to produce the desired response.
The process temperature is sub-critical (1050 F), and the
surface effect is achieved without quenching, so distortion is
minimal. The hard iron nitride surface is additive to the part,
however, so there is a slight increase in overall size.
Almost any ferrous material can be Trinided. Materials
successfully trinided include any plain or low alloy steel,
ductile and gray cast iron, and powdered metal parts. Most
commonly, plain carbon steels and the ductile and gray
irons are Trinided. These relatively low cost materials can be
made highly wear resistance with the Triniding process.
Triniding is typically specified by a combination of hardness
and thickness of the iron nitride (“white”) layer. Because the
case is thin, hardness is verified by file hardness testing,
whereby a hardened steel file is stroked against the part; the
resistance of the part to the file is considered “file hard” and
indicative of proper processing. Confirmation of the white
layer is achieved by metallographic examination of a part or
test bar cross section at high magnification, usually 1000X.
Typical white layer thicknesses are 0.0002in. to 0.001in.
Treat All Metals specializes in quality heat treating and our
Triniding capabilities are no exception. Our process
equipment is certified to ensure accurate control of the
Triniding process. The activity of the atmosphere is
monitored during the cycle to insure the process is
producing the desired results.
Our Quality Control Metallurgical Lab is equipped to test
your product after processing to confirm the proper
response. When necessary, our processes can be certified or
substantiated with complete documentation.
Our experience can help you select the right process for
your application.