What is Casehardening in Welding?

Casehardening is a heat-treatment process that is applied to steel or iron-carbon alloys in order to obtain a harder outside over a softer interior. The depth or increased hardness of the casehardening layer depends upon the length of treatment. This process is commonly used in welding in order to improve the wear resistance and/or fatigue strength of welded components.

What is the purpose of case hardening?

The purpose of case hardening is to improve the wear resistance and/or fatigue strength of welded components. This can be achieved by increasing the hardness of the surface layer, which will, in turn, resist abrasion and/or impact better than softer material. Additionally, casehardening can also help to prevent corrosion by providing a barrier between the steel and the environment.

Why is it called case hardening?

The term “case hardening” comes from the fact that this process involves surrounding the steel with a harder material, known as a case.

What is case hardening and its types?

The most common type of case hardening is carburizing, in which the metal is heated in a low-oxygen environment and then quenched in oil or water. This process creates a hard outer layer (the case) that protects the softer inner core (the matrix). Other types of case hardening include nitriding, cyaniding, and carbonitriding.

What are the benefits of casehardening?

The benefits of casehardening include:

improved wear resistance,
fatigue strength,
and corrosion resistance.

Additionally, casehardening can also help to prevent galling and seizures.

Induction hardening

It is a type of casehardening in which the metal is heated with an electromagnetic field. This process is commonly used to harden small, intricate parts that would be difficult to heat evenly with other methods.