Neutral Hardening
Neutral Hardening for Decarburization Prevention
Neutral hardening is a vital process which increases the hardness, strength, and wear resistance of steel components, while preventing unwanted surface chemistry changes.
Parts are heated to their austenitizing temperature uniformly in a tightly controlled neutral or inert furnace atmosphere, minimizing oxidation and decarburization. Once the target temperature is reached, parts are then quenched to form a hardened microstructure. Tempering is then performed as required to balance hardness and toughness.
Benefits of Neutral Hardening
01
Clean, Oxidation‑Free Surfaces
02
Prevents Decarburization
03
Improved Strength and Hardness
04
Dimensional Control
05
Versatile for Many Steel Grades
Common Applications
Shafts and pins
Gears and sprockets
Tooling and machinery parts
Automotive and industrial components