Pintakovetuskä

Pintakovetuskä is a Finnish term that translates to "surface hardening" in English. It refers to a heat treatment process applied to the surface of metals, particularly steel, to increase its hardness and wear resistance without significantly altering the properties of the core material. This is achieved by creating a thin, hardened layer on the surface while leaving the underlying metal tough and ductile.

The primary objective of pintakovetuskä is to enhance the durability and lifespan of components subjected to friction, abrasion, or impact. Common applications include tools, gears, shafts, and wear plates. The process typically involves heating the surface of the metal to a specific temperature, followed by rapid cooling, or quenching. Various methods can be employed to achieve this localized heating, such as induction hardening, flame hardening, or case hardening techniques like carburizing or nitriding.

Induction hardening uses electromagnetic induction to rapidly heat the surface layer, which is then quenched. Flame hardening utilizes a high-temperature flame to heat the surface before quenching. Case hardening methods involve diffusing elements like carbon or nitrogen into the surface layer at elevated temperatures, followed by quenching and often tempering. The specific method chosen depends on the material, the desired hardness profile, and the geometry of the part. Pintakovetuskä is a crucial metallurgical process that significantly improves the performance of many metal components in demanding applications.