Carburizing : A case hardening process that diffuses nitrogen and carbon into ferrous alloys at sub-critical temperatures. The resultant hardened surface show increased resistance to wear, corrosion, and fatigue.
Carbonitriding : A case hardening process that introduces carbon and nitrogen into the surface of a solid ferrous alloy by heating the alloy in contact with a gaseous carbonaceous material and ammonia. The heat treating process is completed by quenching at a set rate to produce the desired properties of the work piece.
Ferriticnitrocarburizing : A case hardening process that diffuses nitrogen and carbon into ferrous alloys at sub-critical temperatures. The resultant hardened surface show increased resistance to wear, corrosion, and fatigue.
Nitriding : A chemical process which diffuses nascent nitrogen into the surface layers of low carbon steels, other metals, or alloys in order to improve surface hardness and wear resistance.
Gas Nitriding : A process of case hardening in which ferrous alloys, metals or non ferrous alloys, usually of special composition, is heated in an atmosphere of ammonia to produce absorption of nitrogen on the surface which hardens the material without quenching.
Short Cycle Nitriding : Produces a nitrided case consisting of two regions and shortens the time.
Hardening and Tempering : A common heating and cooling treatment used to change properties and structure of the metal to harden and strengthen the metal increasing machinability To evaluate strengthen in usual heat treating practice, use hardness measurement with different Brinell, Rockwell and Vickers scales. Hardened metal is reheated in order to temper it; hardness is lowered but the ductility is increased. Vacuum process will result in bright finishes. Temperature of the temper operation determines the final strength, hardness, and ductility.
Vacuum Heat Treating: The process of heating alloys in a vacuum chamber at pressures down to .0001—.2 Torr. Cooling is performed with inert gas at pressures ranging from sub-atmospheric to as high as 6 Bar. The controlled environment produces bright, clean, high-integrity parts, which eliminates the need for many finishing operations.
Age Hardening: The hardening of a material via precipitation from solid solution of coherent transitional phases which produce a strain in the atomic lattice.
Annealing : A heat treatment process used to soften the metal and produce desired changes in its microstructure. Annealing is used to improve machinability, dimensional stability, relieve stresses and define the crystalline grain structure of the material. Bright Annealing is done in a protective atmosphere or vacuum to prevent discoloration of a bright surface.
Cold Treatment (-120F) : A secondary cooling process that exposes the ferrous material to subzero temperatures (typically –84°C (-120°F) to either impart or enhance specific conditions or properties of the material. Increased strength, greater dimensional or micro-structural stability, improved wear resistance, and relief of residual stress are among the benefits of the cold treatment of steel.
Cryogenic Treatment (-320F) : A secondary cooling process that exposes the ferrous material to subzero temperatures (typically –190°C (-310°F) to either impart or enhance specific conditions or properties of the material. This is typically used to eliminate retained austenite in carburized parts. Increased strength, greater dimensional or micro-structural stability, improved wear resistance, and relief of residual stress are among the benefits of the cold treatment of steel.