Definition and Classification of Carburizing Steel
Carburizing steel is a type of steel that has been specially treated to become especially resistant to the erosive and corrosive effects of various elements and compounds on its surface. Carburizing steel is also known as carburized steel, carburized alloy steel, or carburized plate steel. In order to achieve its remarkable qualities, carburizing steel undergoes a special series of steps involving heat-treating, carbonizing, and surface finishing.
Carburizing steel offers numerous advantages over its typical counterparts, including increased surface hardness and increased resistance to abrasion and corrosion. This makes it an ideal material for use in applications where extreme wear-resistance and durability are required, such as in machine tools, dies, and superior cutting tools.
Carburizing steel can be divided into three major classes, depending on the specific process used to achieve the desired properties. The first class of carburizing steel is referred to as “case-hardening”, and is produced by heating the steel to a high temperature and then introducing a carburizing agent, such as a carbon monoxide source, into the furnace. The carburizing reaction proceeds until a predetermined level of carbon concentration is reached, and then a quenching process is employed in order to harden the steels surface.
The second major class of carburizing steel is surface-hardening, and is created by a process known as “surface-hardening”. During the production process, steel is heated to a very high temperature, and then exposed to a low-concentration atmosphere of a carburizing material, usually carbon monoxide or cyanide. This process continues until the surface of the steel reaches the desired surface hardness, after which a quenching and/or tempering process is employed in order to increase its overall strength.
The third and final class of carburizing steel is known as low-carbon carburizing and is typically used for lighter parts and components, such as small gears and bushings. This process involves submerging the steel in a molten bath of carbon, as well as a number of other alloying materials. This produces a special type of low-carbon and low-alloy steel that is exceptionally resistant to surface erosion and abrasion, while also providing increased durability and strength.
Carburizing steel allows industry and manufacturers the ability to customize their products to fit virtually any demand or use. By understanding and utilizing the different classes of carburizing steel, manufacturers and engineers can create components and machinery that are exceedingly durable and corrosion resistant. It is no surprise then that carburizing steel has become a major player in countless industries and remains one of the most popular and widely used types of steel today.
