K.M. Winter

By using modern process controllers it is possible to optimize a gas carburizing furnace such that ideal carbon profiles can be achieved in less time compared to traditional controllers.

Poorly carburized parts can have devastating consequences. Part hardness and case depth are critical to numerous tooling, automotive and aerospace systems. While diffusion is a well-understood science, the assumptions made in atmosphere carburizing are substantial and can have major impacts on part performance. By understanding the tools used and their limitations, heat treaters can ensure better parts.

In gaseous carburizing, measurement of the carbon content is an important process. Accurate control of carbon potential and the amount of carbon that is diffused into workpieces are part of that process. It relies on measurements obtained from furnace control instrumentation and carbon analysis to verify the measurement’s validity and reliability. Carbon-analysis methods like shim stock essentially verify that readings obtained by the oxygen probe or other control devices are accurate.