Carburizing

Carburizing Capabilities

Cincinnati Steel Treating (CST) has seven different furnaces that are capable of carburizing. The dimensions for each of the furnaces are listed in the accompanying table. Five of the furnaces are internal quench furnaces where the parts are quenched under atmosphere. Two of the furnaces are long pit

furnaces that can accommodate long, narrow parts that are hung from the top to reduce distortion. CST possesses a variety of trays, baskets, hooks, brackets, and frames that are capable of fixturing parts in the optimal position to keep distortion to a minimum. CST also has the capability of straightening long parts that distort during heat treatment.
CST utilizes several different methods of masking during carburizing. Masking refers to the practice of keeping certain areas of a part soft/free of carburizing. CST uses short-cycle masking paint, long-cycle masking paint, and for specialty applications dual carburizing cycles. Ask one of our engineers to see which method should be used with your parts.

Table 1 – Dimensions of Carburizing Furnaces

Furnaces	Dimensions
Small Integral Quench Furnaces (3 of them)	30” X 48” X 30”
Large Integral Quench Furnace	36” X 48” X 72”
Large Integral Quench Furnace with Hot Oil	40” X 48” X 72”
Heavy Duty Pit Furnace (Shallow)	24” Diameter X 50” Deep
Heavy Duty Pit Furnace (Deep)	18” Diameter X 120” Deep

Carburizing Applications

Carburizing is used as a surface treatment for many different types of parts. Most commonly, it is used to impart a case depth onto the teeth of gears. This gives the faces of the teeth hardness to resist wear along with a softer/ductile/tough core. The case depth that is imparted provides protection against

rolling contact fatigue that can result in pitting and spalling on the faces of the gear teeth. Carburizing is also used on the inner and outer surfaces of races in bearings. It has been used in armor plating to provide greater resistance against ballistic loading, and the surfaces of power transmission components like casings and couplings are often carburized.
The amount of case depth imparted into the material varies with the application, and case depth can be controlled by specifying the amount of time that parts are held at carburizing temperature. Carburizing produces significant distortion, so it is important to ensure that enough stock is left on parts that are going to be carburized to allow for the elimination of that distortion after heat treatment. Consult our experts for a recommendation as to how much stock to leave before carburizing.

Carburizing vs. Other Surface Treatment Processes

Carburizing has advantages and disadvantages compared with other surface treatment processes. The comparisons are summarized in the table below. Consult our experts to determine if carburizing is the best process for your applications.

Ready to Start Your Project?

Cincinnati Steel Reviews