About This Service
Surface hardening selectively hardens the outer layer of steel parts while keeping the core tough. We offer induction hardening (fast, minimal distortion), gas carburizing (deep case), nitriding (low distortion), and flame hardening (large parts).
4 Hardening Processes We Offer
Each process suits different materials, geometries, and case depth requirements.
Induction Hardening
Localized heating with induction coil. 5-30 seconds per zone. 0.5-6 mm case depth. 50-62 HRC. Minimal distortion. Best for shafts, gears, cam lobes. Material: medium to high carbon steel.
Gas Carburizing
Heat in carbon-rich atmosphere at 850-950 degrees C, then quench. 0.5-4 mm case depth. 58-62 HRC. Deep case, high hardness. 4-12 hour cycle. Best for gears, pinions, splines. Material: low carbon alloy steel.
Gas / Plasma Nitriding
Heat in nitrogen atmosphere at 500-550 degrees C. No quench needed. 0.1-0.8 mm case depth. 600-1200 HV. Minimal distortion. 20-80 hour cycle. Best for tooling, dies, high-fatigue parts.
Flame Hardening
Oxy-fuel flame heats surface, then quench. 0.5-3 mm case depth. 50-60 HRC. Used for very large parts that do not fit in furnaces. Operator skill critical.
5 Steps of Our Heat Treatment Process
Each step is critical for surface hardness, core toughness, and distortion control.
Material Verification
Spectrometer check on incoming material. Verify alloy grade matches order. Critical for aerospace and medical parts. Records kept for 7 years per IATF 16949.
Pretreatment and Fixturing
Clean parts to remove oils and contaminants. Fixture or fixtureless setup based on part geometry. Distortion-control fixtures used for tight-tolerance parts.
02
Process Run
Induction: 5-30 sec/zone with computer-controlled parameters. Carburizing: 4-12 hours in furnace with controlled atmosphere. Nitriding: 20-80 hours. Process data logged per batch.
03
Quench or Cool (Process-Dependent)
Induction: water or polymer quench. Carburizing: oil or press quench, optional marquenching. Nitriding: slow cool to room temperature. Quench selection affects distortion significantly.
04
Testing and Documentation
Surface hardness (Rockwell C or Vickers). Core hardness. Case depth (microhardness traverse per ASTM E384). Metallurgical photos. Hardness test report per order.
05
Why Choose Our Surface Hardening
Induction: 5-30 sec/zone
Fastest cycle time. Localized heating, minimal distortion. Ideal for shafts, gears, cam lobes.
4 Hardening Processes
Induction, gas carburizing, gas/plasma nitriding, flame. We pick the right process for your material and geometry.
Hardness Test Reports
Surface hardness, core hardness, case depth (microhardness traverse). ASTM E18 / E384 standards. Metallurgical photos included.
IATF 16949 Certified
Automotive-grade heat treatment. PPAP documentation, control plans for production parts.
Distortion Control
Press quenching, marquenching, induction tempering for tight distortion requirements (plus/minus 0.05 mm).
Wide Material Range
Carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, bearing steel, nitriding stainless. From 1045 to H13.
Sample Products We Make
Click any product to inquire about a similar part for your application.
