Carburizing Stainless Steel
Carburizing Stainless Steel
(OP)
Hi All,
Can SS be carburized? I have a shaft with a spline on it which is carburized to Rc 58 or so. Is it possible that this shaft is made of stainless?
Thanks and regards.
Can SS be carburized? I have a shaft with a spline on it which is carburized to Rc 58 or so. Is it possible that this shaft is made of stainless?
Thanks and regards.





RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
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RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
thread338-70369
thread330-88958
thread330-49696
Regards,
Cory
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
The drawing calls out the carburization, but not the material spec. We are thinking about trying a little reverse engineering, and I thought that if SS cannot be carburized, our shaft must not be stainless. Incidentally, the shaft is slightly magnetic. This is not really critical, because there is no reason to make the part from stainless, but we are curious. Being structural, and not a metallurgist, I just wanted to inquire and learn what I could.
CoryPad and Israelkk-
Thank you for the leads.
I appreciate your help and advice.
Regards,
Lcubed
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
possibly 1050, 4140, 4150, 8660
or
4023, 5120, 4118, 8620, and 4620
or
4320, 4817, and 9310
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
if A, then it could be regular steel as diamondjim states, if B, I am at a loss as to how high of a hardness you've got along with lack of ferro-magnetism.
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
The answer is 'B'
Regards,
Lcubed
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
If this shaft was made of a non-magnetic SS (IE 304) and the surface was carburized to get hardness as great or greater than common martensitic (420 or 440) stainlesses. Then would the case behave like the martensitic grades? and would the shaft then have the magnetic properties that Lcubed described?
I just dont see how steel will have a HRc of 58 while remaining non-magnetic.
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
Very High Hardness -> does anyone know if Maraging steels are non-magnetic?
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
I believe the maraging steels are magnetic. The relatively low carbon Fe-Ni martensite forms after solution annealing. This allows forming operations and upon subsequent aging, precipitates form in the martensite resulting in excellent toughness and strength. Magnetic properties do change with aging.
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
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RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
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RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
With respect to carburization, the "traditional" carburizing processes that have been applied to stainless steel significantly reduce the corrosion resistance due to chromium precipitation with the carbon. But there have been a few new processes developed that are performed at temperatures low enough that the chromium does not diffuse to form the carbides. Kolsterizing is an example. These processes are generally applicable only to austenitic stainlesses. The carbon occupies interstitial sites in the austenite FCC lattice structure. The result is corrosion resistance at least equivalent to the unhardened alloy, superior SCC and fatigue resistance (due to the high residual compressive stress state in the hardened case), and hardness in the range about 70 Rc.
I am familiar with the Kolsterizing process, as we have used it for over 15 years with great success. Details of the process are confidential, however.
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel
RE: Carburizing Stainless Steel