2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Chapter Name of the Topic Marks

2 HEAT TREATMENT
Specific Objectives:
Study various methods of Heat treatment processes as
applied to automobile components. Understand iron-
carbon phase equilibrium diagram.
Contents:
2.1 Introduction:
02 12
• Concept of phase and phase transformations
• Iron-Iron carbide phase (Fe-Fe3C) equilibrium diagram.
2.2 Common heat treatment processes and their
applications: Annealing, Normalizing, Hardening,
Tempering. Surface hardening processes:- Case
carburizing, Nitriding, Cyaniding, Induction and Flame
hardening.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 1

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

2.1 INTRODUCTION

Phase:
Atoms are similar to a bunch of balls, and these balls can be arranged in
many different ways. A simple example is that the billiard balls are arranged
in a hexagonal close-packed fashion to start with, whereas the keyboards you
are using are arranged in another way. Although both of these examples are
two dimensional, atoms can certainly also be arranged in many different ways
three dimensionally.
The reason that atoms have a regular or homogeneous way to stack
themselves is because such arrangement results in a stable or low energy
configuration. The homogeneous arranged portion of atoms is called a phase.
A phase may be defined as a homogeneous portion of a system that has
uniform physical and chemical characteristics. Every pure material is
considered to be a phase; so also is every solid, liquid, and gaseous solution.
The graph below is the phase diagram for pure H2O. Parameters
plotted are external pressure (vertical axis, scaled logarithmically) versus
temperature. In a sense this diagram is a map wherein regions for the three
familiar phases—solid (ice), liquid (water), and vapor (steam) are described.
The three curves represent phase boundaries that define the regions. A
photograph located in each region shows an example of its phase—ice cubes,
liquid water being poured into a glass, and steam that is spewing forth from a
kettle.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 2

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

One other interesting example is the different forms of carbon: graphite is

one; diamond is another. Diamond can only be formed at extremely high
temperature and pressure, but it stays almost `unbreakable' once it is
formed. Therefore, it is possible to transform graphite into diamond as long
as enough high temperature and pressure are exerted. You may also imagine
that not too large of a diamond can be formed, because the high pressure is
required throughout the whole diamond. If the graphite body is big, it is
difficult to transfer the applied pressure to the inside of that graphite body.
Phase Transformation
In the history, metals stand for a very special class of materials,
because metals are stable enough to remain solid at room temperature, but it
is also unstable enough so that we can burn coals to melt them and to shape
them into different tools. On the contrary, it is almost impossible to melt rocks
or sands, and these are categorized as ceramics. Therefore, metals have
long been used to understand the nature of materials. The science and
technology of metals are defined as metallurgy.
Part of the advantages for metals in scientific research is due to some of
their crystal structures. For example, pure iron has body center cubic
(bcc) structure at room temperature. Bcc structure has eight atoms sitting on
the corners of a cube and one atom in the center of this cube. Other metals
that have this structure include Chromium (Cr), Tungsten (W), etc.
The other important family of structure is face center cubic (fcc). Fcc
structure also has eight atoms on the corners of the cube, but it has six other
atoms sitting at the centers of the cube faces. Fcc metals are famous for their
ductility. Many ductile metals, such as Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Copper
(Cu), Aluminum (Al), Nickel (Ni), etc., all have this structure.
It should be noted that although pure iron has a bcc structure at room
temperature, iron does not melt but changes from the bcc structure into fcc
structure at temperatures above 910 degree centigrade. Such crystal
structure change between phases is phase transformation.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 3

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Heat treatment: It is defined as an operation involving heating and

cooling of metals or alloys in its solid state with the purpose of
changing the properties of the material. The physical and mechanical
properties of the materials depend upon the size, shape and form of the
micro-constituents present. The micro-constituents generally present in steel
are ferrite, troostite, sorbite, austenite and cementite.
Steel possesses many properties like strength, cheapness and
workability in addition to toughness, stiffness creep resistance, fatigue
resistance, impact strength, etc. Proper heat treatment of steel plays an
important part in engineering. Heat treatment of all components, whether
cast forged or rolled, is necessary before actual use.
Factors in Heat Treatment Processes:
Before carrying out any heat treatment operation the following factors
need consideration:
1. Chemical composition of the material.
2. Mode of manufacture of the material, i.e. cast, ingot, rolled or forged,
etc.
3. Whether any previous heat treatment operation has been carried out
on the material and what is its structure.
4. Heat treatment operations to be performed and properties and
structure required.

Objectives of Heat Treatment:

When steel is subjected to the heat treatment operations, it undergoes
many structural changes due to which the properties of the material change.
In studying the effects of heat treatment therefore, the following points need
consideration.
1. Structural condition of the object before heat treatment.
2. Structural changes occurring during the heat treatment.
3. Structural conditions permanently retained.
In addition to the above, the chemical composition of the material
plays a vital role in controlling the properties of the materials.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 4

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

The following are the main objects of the heat treatment of steel.
1. To soften the steel that has been hardened by the previous heat
treatment or mechanical working.
2. To harden the steel and increase its strength.
3. To adjust its other mechanical and physical properties like ductility,
malleability, permeability corrosion resistance, etc.
4. To stabilize the dimensions of the steel instruments so that they do not
expand or contract with time.
5. To refine the grain size of the steel.
6. To reduce the internal stresses. To eliminate gases.
7. To produce a hard surface on a ductile interior.
8. To improve electrical and magnetic properties.

COOLING CURVE OF PURE IRON

Fig 2.1: Cooling curve of pure iron

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 5

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

• Fe-C PHASE TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAM (IRON-IRON

CARBIDE EQUILIBRIUM DIAGRAM)
The various phases existing in the diagram are as below:
(i) α (Ferrite): Ferrite is a solid solution of carbon in low temperature B.C.C. α
iron. It is almost pure iron and the name ferrite comes from the Latin word
ferrum which means iron. It is a relatively soft and ductile phase
(ii) γ (Austenite): Austenite is a solid solution of carbon in F.C.C. γ - iron. It
can dissolve upto 2.0% carbon at 1147°C. The phase is stable only above
727°C. It is a soft, ductile, malleable and non-magnetic (paramagnetic) phase
(iii) δ (δ - ferrite): It is a solid solution of carbon in high temperature B.C.C. δ-
iron. It is similar to α-ferrite except its occurrence at high temperature.
(iv) Fe3C (Cementite): It is an intermetallic compound of iron and carbon with
a fixed carbon content of 6.67% by weight. It is extremely hard and brittle
phase. It is also called Iron Carbide.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 6

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

• TTT DIAGRAM / ISOTHERMAL TRANSFORMATION

DIAGRAM
Time Temperature Transformation diagrams or Isothermal diagrams
are also called S curve or C curve due to their shape. For each steel
composition, different IT diagram is obtained. Fig 2.3 shows TTT diagram of
eutectoid steel (i.e. steel containing 0.8% C).
Austenite is stable above eutectoid temperature 727 °C. When steel is cooled
to temperature below this eutectoid temperature, austenite is transformed
into its transformation product. TTT diagram relates transformation of
austenite to time and temperature conditions. Thus, TTT diagram indicates
transformation product according to temperature and also time required for
complete transformation.
Curve 1 is transformation begin curve while curve 2 is transformation end
curve. The region to the left of curve 1 corresponds to austenite (A’). The
region to the right of curve 2 represents complete transformation of austenite
(F+C). The interval between these two curves indicates partial decomposition
of austenite into ferrite and Cementite (A’+F+C).

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 7

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Fig 2.3: TTT diagram of eutectoid steel

At temperatures just below eutectoid temperature, austenite decomposes into

pearlite; at lower temperatures (600 °C) sorbite is formed and at 500 – 550
°C troostites is formed. If temperature is lowered from 500 °C to 220 °C
acicular troostite or bainite is formed. In eutectoid steels, the martensite
transformation begins at MS (240 °C) and ends at MF (50 °C). The change in
the hardness of the structures is shown in Rockwell units (RC) at the right
hand side of the diagram.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 8

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

• 2.2 COMMON HEAT TREATMENT PROCESSES

Common heat treatment processes can be classified as follows:

1. Annealing
(i) Full annealing
(ii) Process annealing
(iii) Isothermal annealing
(iv)Spheroidize annealing
(v) Homogenizing
2. Normalizing
3. Hardening
4. Tempering
5. Surface hardening

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 9

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

ANNEALING
The annealing operation is carried out mainly to obtain the following
properties.
1. To soften the steels.
2. To improve machinability.
3. To relieve internal stress induced by some previous treatment (rolling,
forging, extrusion, uneven cooling).
4. To remove coarseness of grains.
5. To produce a completely stable structure.
Annealing treatment is applied to castings, forgings, cold worked sheets and
wires. The operation consists of (i) heating the steel to- a certain
predetermined temperature (ii) soaking at a constant temperature for a
sufficient time to allow the necessary changes to occur and (iii) cooling at a
predetermined very slow rate.
1. Full Annealing:
Purpose:
(i) To reduce internal stresses produced due to cold working, welding etc.
(ii) To reduce hardness and increase ductility.
(iii) To refine the grain size.
(iv) To increase machinability.
(v) To make the steel suitable for further heat treatment.
Process:
Hypoeutectoid steel (steel containing less than 0.8 % C) is heated to
30-50 °C above the upper critical temperature and hypereutectoid steel (steel
containing more than 0.8 % C) is heated to 50°C above the lower critical
temperature. The steel is soaked at the annealing temperature (soaking time
depend upon the thickness of steel parts). Then these steel parts are slowly
cooled at the rate of 20 to 40°C per hour. The cooling is carried out in the
furnace.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 10

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

2. Process Annealing:
It is also known as sub- critical annealing or recrystalization.
Purpose:
(i) To soften the component to restore the ductility.
(ii) To remove the internal stresses produced in the casting by welding or
by previous heat treatment.
Process:
Steel is heated to a temperature from 600 to 650 °C, holding at that
temperature, and then cooling in air or in furnace. By this process, high
degree of softening takes place due to removal of stress from pearlite. No
phase change takes place and the ferrite & pearlite simply rearrange
themselves to induce softening in materials.
3. Isothermal Annealing:
This process is suitable for small rolled and forged components and not for
large components. It is faster than full annealing and saves much time.
Purpose:
(i) To obtain stable structure
(ii) To save the time required for heat treatment
Process:
The process is similar to ordinary annealing but it is first cooled rapidly in air
or by blast in furnace to temperature 600-700 °C. The steel is held
isothermally at this temperature for certain duration then it is rapidly cooled in
air.
4. Spheroidize Annealing:
The process of producing a structure of globular pearlite is known as
Spheroidizing or spheroidizes annealing.
Purpose:
(i) To improve machinability of the steel
(ii) To reduce hardness
(iii) To prevent chances of cracking during cold working.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 11

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Process:
This operation is generally applied to the hypereutectoid steels. Steel is
heated just above the lower critical temperature (740 to 770 0C), held for the
required time and cooled very slowly upto 600 0C in furnace. Further cooling
is conducted in still air. The cooling rate varies from 20 to 25 0C per hour. It
should be noted that heating much above Acm will produce lamellar pearlite
instead of granular cementite.
5. Homogenizing:
It is also known as diffusion annealing.
Purpose:
(i) To remove non uniformity of castings this is caused by coring. Coring
means variation in the composition from centre to surface of a
grain.
(ii) To improve the structure of steel.
Process:
The steel is heated as rapidly as possible up to 1150 °C and is held at this
temperature for sufficient time so that diffusion takes place. It is then cooled
in 6 to 8 hours to a temperature of 800 to 850 °C and then further cooled in
air. After homogenizing, the full annealing is done to refine the grain
structure.
NORMALIZING
Purpose:
1. To eliminate coarse-grained structure.
2. To remove internal stresses that may have been caused by working.
3. To improve the mechanical properties of the steel.
4. To increase the strength of medium carbon steels to a certain extent
(in comparison with annealed steels)
5. To improve the machinability of low carbon steels
6. To improve the structure of welds
Normalizing is frequently applied as a final heat treatment for items
which are to operate at relatively high stresses.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 12

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Process:
1. Heating the metal to temperatures within the normalizing range usually
40°C to 50°C above Ac3 (for Hypoeutectoid steels) and Acm (for
hypereutectoid steels)
2. Holding at this temperature for a short time (about 15 minutes).
3. Cooling in air.
Normalized steels have a higher yield points, tensile strength and
impact strength than if they were annealed, but ductility and machinability
obtained by normalizing will be somewhat lower.
Difference between annealing and normalizing
Annealing Normalizing

Less hardness, toughness.
Slightly more hardness, toughness.

For plain carbon steel the
Microstructure shows more pearlite.
microstructure shows pearlite.
Pearlite is fine and appears

Pearlite is coarse and usually gets unresolved with optical microscope.
resolved by the optical microscope.
Grain size distribution is slightly less

Grain size distribution is more uniform. uniform.

Internal stresses are least.
Internal stresses are slightly more

HARDENING AND QUENCHING

Hardening:
Objectives:
(i) To improve mechanical properties, like elasticity, strength, ductility,
toughness, etc.
(ii) To enable the metal to cut other metals,
(iii) To develop desired hardness.

Process:
The process consists of heating the metal to a temperature above
critical point. The metal is held at this temperature for a considerable time

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 13

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

and then it is rapidly cooled. The cooling media used varies between water,
oil or molten salt.
Hardening is applied to tools and machine parts to perform the
operations more efficiently.

Quenching:
The rapid cooling of a metal in a bath of liquid during heat
treatment is known as quenching, e.g. Steel is heated above its critical
temperature and plunged into water to cool it, an extremely hard, needle
shaped structure known as ‘martensite’ is formed. The rapidity with which
heat is absorbed by the quenching bath has different effects on the hardness
of the metal. Cold clean water is used as quenching media, while addition of
salt increases the hardness considerably. Oil gives the best balance between
hardness, toughness and distortion. Special soluble oils are used as quenching
media.
The parts which are subjected to hardening have good tensile
strength, but poor ductility, toughness and impact strength.
TEMPERING
Objectives:
(i) To reduce internal stresses developed during previous heating,
(ii) To reduce the hardness developed during hardening,
(iii) To give the metal a right structural condition (To stabilize the
structure).
Why tempering is done after hardening?
After hardening, when a metal is removed from the quenching media,
it is very hard and brittle and there are several other inequalities in the
structure of the metal. Tempering is done to restore ductility and reduce
hardness. The process involves re-heating of the metal below critical point,
then holding it for a considerable time and then slowly cooling it. Tempering
should be done immediately after quenching in order to relieve hardening
strains. The temperature at which tempering is done varies with the carbon
content of the metal and mechanical properties desired in the finished article.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 14

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Lathe tools, chisels in which only the cutting ends need hardening
may be hardened and tempered in one operation only. The whole tool
is heated to the hardening temperature and the cutting end is quenched.
When the cold end is rubbed bright and the heat from unquenched portion
causes tempering, when the colour is satisfactory, the whole tool is quenched.
Three types of tempering processes are classified as:
(i) Low temperature tempering: This type of tempering is done in the range
of 200 - 250° C. At this range, hardness changes to a very small extent.
Tensile strength is increased. Internal stresses are reduced comparatively.
(ii) Medium temperature tempering: Tempering done in this case at a range
of 350° to 450° C. In this case, the properties of the structure are improved,
mostly employed for coil and laminated springs. Highest elastic limit and
toughness are achieved.
(iii) High temperature tempering: This tempering is performed in the range of
550° C to 600° C. Eliminates the internal stresses completely. Comparatively
high strength and toughness are achieved.
2.2.1 CASE HARDENING OF STEELS
A large number of industrial components like cams, change-over switch
shafts, drive worms brake drums, gears, etc. require a hard wear resistant
surface (also called case) and a soft core, so that it is tough and shock
resistant too. No plain carbon steel and even alloy steels possess both the
requirements, i.e. hard surface and tough core to resist shock. It is noticed
that steel containing 0.1% carbon is tough whereas the steel containing 0.8
%C is very hard and brittle. Both these properties are obtained by the case
hardening process. The heat treatment process of producing a hard wear-
resistant carbon rich case (surface layers) on a tough and soft core of steel
part is known as case hardening. Low carbon steel is used for the case
hardening processes except in induction, hardening, where medium carbon
steel or high carbon steel is used. The processes generally employed for case
hardening are as follows.
1. Carburising
2. Cyaniding

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 15

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

3. Nitriding
4. Carbonitriding
5. Flame hardening
6. Induction hardening.
1. Carburising
Process: Curburising is a method of enriching in carbon the surface
layer of low carbon steel in order to produce a hard case. Carburising is also
known as cementation. Roughly, the machined parts of the low carbon steel
are packed with carburising mixture in a steel box as shown in Fig. The
carburising mixture contains 50 to 70% charcoal, 5 to 15% barium carbonate,
2 to 15% calcium carbonate and 3 to 13% sodium carbonate. A layer of the
carburising mixture of nearly 25 mm thickness is placed at the bottom. Then
the components are so placed that no component touches one another or
even the sides of the box. The box is covered and the lid tightly sealed with
fireclay to avoid the entry or escape of gases.

Fig: Packing components for solid carburising

The portion which is not to be case hardened is protected by electroplating on
the surface which does not absorb carbon. The boxes are placed in a furnace
and heated to a temperature of 900 to 980°C for 6 to 8 hours. Temperature
and time of heating depends upon the depth of the case required. After
heating, the box is allowed to cool along with components inside the furnace.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 16

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Carbon percentage increases on the surface as the austenite has a tendency

to absorb carbon at high temperatures.
Depth of the case obtained in this case varies from 1 mm to 1.5 mm with the
carbon content on the outer surface at 1.1 to 1.2%.
2. Cyaniding
The process of providing a hard wear resistant case with a
tough core to the low carbon steels by liquid cyanide bath is called
cyaniding.
Process: The cyanide mixture (20 to 50 % Sodium cyanide and 40% Sodium
carbonate) is heated to a temperature of 870 to 930°C, and the work pieces
contained in a wire basket are immersed in the molten bath of cyanide. The
soaking period varies from component to component depending on the depth
of the case, but generally, it varies from-10 minutes to 3 hours.
Nitrogen produced in atomic form also dissolves on the surface and increase
in hardness takes place due to the formation of nitrides. In nitriding, a portion
of the surface to the parts to be kept soft is coated with such materials which
are not affected by the bath. Careful handling of cyanides is needed as these
salts are very poisonous.

3. Nitriding
The heat treatment process which produces a hard-wear
resistant layer of nitrides on a tough core of low carbon steel is
known as nitriding.
Process: The process is suitable for the steels containing 1%
aluminium, 1.5% chromium and 0.2 per cent molybdenum. The percentage of
carbon in these steels varies from 0.2 to 0.5.
The process consists of heating machined and heat treated components to a
temperature of 500°C for 40 to 90 hours in a gas tight box through which
ammonia gas is circulated. The essential requirement of the operation is close
adherence to a temperature of 500°C. The component is allowed to cool in
the furnace after switching of the supply of ammonia.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 17

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

When ammonia vapours come in contact with the steel, they get dissociated
NH3 = 3H +N and nascent nitrogen so produced diffuses into the surface of
the workpiece forming hard nitrides.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 18

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Difference between Carburizing and Nitriding.

Carburizing
1) Carburizing is a method of heat
treatment by which carbon content at
the surface of a ferrous material is
increased.
2) High temperature (930°C).
Quenching is done.
3) Hardening and tempering is
needed.
4) This process is very simple and
inexpensive.
5) Grain refinement is not necessary.
Nitriding
1) Nitriding is a case hardening
process by which nitrogen content at
the surface of steel is increased.
2) Temperature employed ≤=600°C.
Quenching is not required.
3) No need of hardening and
tempering.
4) This process is complex and
expensive.
5) Before nitriding, grain refinement
is necessary.

4. Carbonitriding
The process of producing a hard case by the addition of carbon and
nitrogen on the surface of the steel.
Process: Hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and ammonia gases are used for
Carbonitriding. Carbonitriding is carried out at a temperature of 800 to 875°C
for 6 to 10 hours and the case depth obtained is 0.5 mm. Carbonitriding is
applied to the low carbon steels (steels used for carburising). Nitrogen in the
surface layer of the steel increases its hardenability and permits hardening in
oil quenching. Thus, chances of distortion and cracking are eliminated. The
portion of components which is not to be carbonitrided is protected by copper
plating.

SURFACE HARDENING
Surface hardening involves the following two methods.
1. Flame hardening:
The process of heating the metal with a flame of an oxyacetylene torch and is
then almost immediately quenched is called as flame hardening.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 19

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Fig: Principle of flame hardening

Process: The surface to be case hardened is heated by means of an
oxyacetylene torch for sufficient time and Quenching is achieved by sprays of
water which are integrally connected with the heating device. The heating is
generally accomplished for sufficient time so as to raise the temperature of
the surface of the specimen above the critical temperature. As the
temperature desired is achieved immediately, spraying of water is started. In
mass production work, progressive surface hardening is carried out where it is
arranged to have the flame in progress along with quenching.
Advantages:

Selective surface can be hardened even on very large components.

There is less distortion than in ordinary methods.
Disadvantages:

Temperature can not be precisely controlled.

Hardening is restricted to parts which are affected by wear.
2. Induction hardening:
The process of the surface hardening by inductive heating is known as
induction hardening.
Process: A high frequency current is passed through the inductor
blocks which surround the surface to be hardened without actually touching
it. The inductor block current induces current in the surface of the metal
which the block surrounds. The induced eddy current and hysterisis losses in

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 20

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

surface material effect the heat required. When the surface, to be hardened,
is heated upto a proper length of time, the circuit is opened and water is
sprayed immediately on the surface for quenching. It is extensively used for
hardening of crank shaft, cam shafts, axles and gears.

Advantages:
(i) Time required for this process is less
(ii) Deformation is reduced.
(iii) Hardening can be controlled by controlling the current
(iv) Depth of hardening can be controlled.
Disadvantages:
(i) High equipment cost
(ii) High maintenance cost
(iii) Method is suitable only for large scale production.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 21

 2 HEAT TREATMENT 2015-16

Difference between Flame and Induction hardening

Flame Hardening

Material is heated with
oxyacetylene flame at a required
temperature, and then it is followed
by water spraying.
Induction Hardening

Material is heated by using high
frequency induced current and then
it is followed by water spraying.

Holding time is required.
Due to very fast heating, no holding

Oxidation and decarburization are
minimum.

Irregular shape parts can be flame
hardened.

Flame hardening requires more
care in control of temperature.
time is required.

No scaling and decarburization.

Irregular shape parts are not
suitable for induction hardening.

Easy control of temperature by
control of frequency of supply
voltage.

2.4 SELECTION AND APPLICATION OF HEAT TREATMENT PROCESS

TYPES OF HEAT TREATMENT PURPOSE COMPONENT

Softening and removing Forged blanks for gearing

Annealing residual stress for post
and misc. parts
processes
Railroad wheels, axles
Control microstructure and
Normalizing
hardness for machining and some bar products.
high strength and wear Heavy gears, heavy duty
Hardening
resistance crankshafts
Optimize hardness for strength
Tempering Fasteners and Rods
and toughness
Fatigue strength and wear Gears and shafts
Carburizing
resistance improvement.
To impart wear and corrosion Cam shafts, oil pump
Nitriding
resistance. gears, valves
Heat up by inductive power
Cam shafts, Drive shafts,
Induction hardening and quench to get hard case
steering knuckles
locally.

Rohan Desai, Auto. Engg. Dept.NPK. Page 22