flame hardening
Flame Hardening is a surface-hardening heat treatment recognized for improving the hardness of metallic surfaces while retaining toughness in the core by rapidly heating them using a high-temperature flame, followed by quenching.
Key Features:
- Surface Hardening: Only the surface case hardening improves wear resistance, while the core remains tough enough to withstand any severe impact.
- Controlled Heating: Both the flame temperature and duration of heating are rigorously controlled to achieve uniformity in hardness without any distortion of the component.
- Quenching Process: After heating, rapid cooling with either water or oil instantly converts the heated surface int structuring the hardened structure of the core.
Flame Hardening finds application in automotive, aerospace, and engineering industries for components, including gears, shafts, and machine tools. It achieves wear resistance, improving the life of components employed in high-friction conditions. Technological advances continue to enhance the precision and effectiveness of flame-hardening processes.