carburisiert

Carburized refers to a process used in metallurgy to harden the surface of steel. It involves diffusing carbon into the surface layer of a low-carbon steel at high temperatures. This process creates a hard, wear-resistant outer shell while the core of the steel remains relatively soft and tough.

The carburizing process typically involves heating the steel in a carbon-rich atmosphere. This atmosphere can be created using solid, liquid, or gaseous compounds that decompose at high temperatures to release carbon. Common methods include pack carburizing (using charcoal or bone meal), liquid carburizing (using molten cyanide salts), and gas carburizing (using carbon monoxide or hydrocarbon gases). The steel is held at a specific temperature, usually between 800°C and 1000°C, for a set duration, allowing carbon to penetrate the surface.

After carburizing, the steel is usually quenched (rapidly cooled) in oil or water to harden the newly formed high-carbon surface layer. This is often followed by tempering to reduce brittleness and achieve the desired combination of surface hardness and core toughness. Carburized components are commonly found in applications requiring high wear resistance, such as gears, bearings, and shafts. The depth of the hardened layer and the surface hardness can be controlled by adjusting the temperature, time, and carbon potential of the carburizing atmosphere.