carbonize

Carburizing is a process often used in metallurgy to improve the surface hardness of ferrous materials. It involves treating iron with carbon to create a carbon atmosphere around the material. This process causes carbon to diffuse into the outer layer of the metal, resulting in increased hardness and wear resistance. During carburizing, the iron is heated in an environment with carbon sources such as coal or gaseous carbon, such as methane. The temperature and duration of the treatment vary depending on the specific requirements of the material to be treated and the desired end product.

Once the carburizing process is complete, the treated material can undergo further processing steps to achieve the desired shape and surface properties. This process is used in various industries, including the manufacture of gear and drive components for machines, tools and other parts where high hardness and wear resistance are required.