Solutions for Increased Implementation of Low-Pressure Carburizing with Gas Quenching (ImpLPC)

Purpose and goal

The aim is to accelerate the transition from traditional atmospheric carburizing with oil quenching (AC) to low-pressure carburizing with gas quenching (LPC), a significantly more environmentally friendly heat treatment method. Differences in cooling characteristics and component performance between LPC and AC present obstacles to implementation. The project addresses technical and performance-related challenges, fatigue properties, steels for LPC, and environmental and economic impacts.

Expected effects and result

The project´s contribution to significant improvement: • Development of methodology for setting requirements and verifying the gas quenching process • In-depth understanding of how differences in cooling affect microstructure, core hardness, and fatigue strength • Identification of material properties in steels optimized for LPC • Environmental and cost analysis of LPC based on production scenarios • Investigation of interrupted gas quenching as a method to improve strength

Planned approach and implementation

To verify the performance of the components, both characterization regarding microstructure, surface properties, core hardness, and hardening profile is required, as well as verification of the properties through experimental testing. The work includes hardening in various equipment at the project participants’ facilities, study of process parameters, fatigue strength and steel properties as well as sustainability. A methodology for comparing gas versus oil quenching will be developed.