Case Hardening of Steel

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Case Hardening of Steel

Engineering Applications and Design
Engineering Materials

Case Hardening of Steel
Harry Brearlby
Arthur W. Brearley
220 pages

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Preface

The following descriptions and explanations were written mainly for the use of those actively engaged or interested in the commercial production of case-hardened objects. For that reason the chapters are arranged so as to appeal at once to the workshop experience and observations of craftsmen, to whose friendliness the author is indebted for many of the specimens from which the illustrations were made. It was not found possible, however, to separate the subject into practical and theoretical divisions, nor is any such distinction desirable.

Though no apology may be needed for introducing a number of micro-photographs, a few words of explanation may be allowable. We are accustomed to discriminate between certain kinds of materials by the appearance of fractured surfaces; the tool steel trade was built up on refined discriminations of this kind long before chemical analysis or the modern refinements of heat treatment had been developed to any serviceable extent. The observation of polished and etched surfaces is nothing more than an extension of this old and useful practice, and quite a remarkable amount of information can be extracted from such surfaces by means of a hand lens magnifying only five or six diameters, and sometimes even by the unaided eye.

It is unfortunate, though perhaps not altogether un- avoidable, that microscopic demonstrations should be obscured by a jargon of ambiguous names. But the examinations themselves are not in the least ambiguous ; on the contrary, they are along the line of least resistance for whoever wishes to study the principles underlying metallurgical handicrafts, and provide unrestricted oppor- tunity for direct observation, which may be interpreted according to one's personal experience. The necessity for such observations lies mainly in the planning of schemes for attaining some desired end, and in the quest of the intelligent mind after the why and wherefore.

An explanation based on the mechanical structure of an object is intelligible, because most minds can appreciate the elements of design and pass judgment on the com- posite properties of materials. Many kinds of steel have a mechanical structure which, when suitably magnified, is as obvious as that of reinforced concrete. It is in terms of such structures that the properties of case-hardened steels must be explained. For that reason micro-photographs will be freely used in the following pages ; and for the same reason the assistance offered by microscopic methods, whatever means of magnification are available, should not be ignored in workshop practice.

The first edition of this book appeared in 1914, but it has been for some years out of print. Meanwhile the great stir about steel specifications caused by the war impressed new ideas about steel and its heat treatment on most engineering firms, much to their benefit in all respects, except, perhaps, in relation to case-hardening steels. In these many changes followed in rapid succession, resembling somewhat in exposition and effect the advertisements of a patent medicine vendor. As a legacy there remains a tangle of truth and falsehood which only time and patient observation can straighten out. In venturing to question the value of notions which some readers may cherish, the author has written as clearly as he knows how, and perhaps a trifle dogmatically. It should, however, be understood that no man's word is law in an experimental craft like case-hardening. Nothing but good can come of criticism which induces the case-hardener to reweigh his com- promises and test his beliefs.

The author is greatly indebted to his colleagues, J. H. G. Monypenny, who kindly read the proofs and compiled the index, and Harry Nicholds, who made drawings and photographs for illustrations.

TOC

PART 1
HISTORY AND MEANING OF CEMENTATION CASE-HARDENED FILES CEMENTATION AND CAST STEEL- SHEAR STEEL STRUCTURE OF STEEL PEAR LITE CEMENTITE

PART II
STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE CORE OVERHEATING REFINING CHANGES ON HEATING COM- PLETE DIFFUSION CHANGES ON COOLING DOUBLE QUENCHING

PART III
FIBRE AND LAMINATION IN THE CORE WHAT is FIBRE? FIBROUS CORES FINAL QUENCHING FIBRE STEELS TRANSVERSE CRACKS LAMINATION SLAG STREAKS

PART IV
PROPERTIES AND DEFECTS OF HARDENED CASES
FREE CEMENTITE REFINING THE CASE SUPER-CARBURI- SATION SLAG STREAKS HARMFUL FIBRE SOFT SPOTS TROOSTITE GRINDING STREAKY TROOSTITE CRACKS AND SPLINTERS

PART V
THE CARBURISING OPERATION
FURNACES BOXES CONDUCTIVITY OF MIXTURES SOFT PLACES CARBURISATION ACTION OF GASES DECAR- BURISATION BY GASES A CRUCIAL EXPERIMENT SLOW COOLING DEPTH OF PENETRATION PENETRA- TION CURVES PHOTO RECORDS OF PENETRATION

PART VI
CASE-HARDENING STEELS
MACHINED SURFACES CAUSE OF ROUGH FINISH FREE CUTTING CARBON STEELS MANGANESE STEELS CHROMIUM STEELS NICKEL STEELS NICKEL CHROME STEELS SPECIFICATIONS

PART VII
CARBURISING REAGENTS
EQUILIBRIUM DIAGRAM HELPFUL SCEPTICISM SOLID CARBURISERS DIAMONDS EVOLVED GASES USELESS GASES DISCREPANCIES A GOOD CARBURISER ALKA- LINE CHARCOAL CHARRED BONE GASEOUS CARBU- RISERS SPRINKLING POWDERS

PART VIII
METHODS OF TESTING HARDNESS:
FILE TEST SCLEROSCOPE BALL TEST BRINELL MACHINE HARDNESS OF BAR STEEL TOUGHNESS OF BAR STEEL IZOD IMPACT TESTER CONSTANTS OF IZOD MACHINE NOTCHES AND CRACKS -HIGH IMPACT FIGURES ROUND AND SHARP NOTCHES CREEPING CRACKS MAXIMUM TOUGHNESS STRENGTH OF HARDENED CASE RING CRACKS No TOUGHNESS WITHOUT DISTORTION SPECIFICA- TIONS HIGH TENSILE CORES

PART IX
AUTOMOBILE STEELS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION -PHYSICAL PROPERTIES CHANGES BY HEAT TREATMENT HIGH QUENCHING HEATS- SERIES HEAT TREATMENTS CARBON STEEL VALUES OF RELATED CURVES NICKEL STEELS NICKEL CHROME STEELS GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS BUYING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES SELECTION OF MATERIALS CHROMIUM STEELS CHROME VANADIUM STEELS AIR-HARDENINGIRREGULARITIES OF AIR-HARDENING

PART X
HARDENING AND TEMPERING
UNIFORM HEATING AND COOLING ANGLES AND CORNERS FORMATION OF CRYSTALS SHRINKAGE SHRINK- AGE CRACKS COMPRESSION CRACKS STEEL BALLS- DISTORTION TENSILE TESTS- -Loss OF HARDNESS TEMPER BRITTLENESS WORKING FURNACES PYRO- METERS PROTECTION FOR COUPLES TEMPERATURE INDICATORS TEMPERATURE RECORDERS SENTINELS QUENCHING FLUIDS

PART XI
SURFACE HARDENING WITHOUT CEMENTATION

PRESS HARDENING FLAME CUTTING BLOWPIPE HARDENING TAPER HEATING