As an OEM in Pennsylvania or a surrounding state, using a heat treatment provider in your area makes a difference for your company. By using a local heat treatment facility, it is easier to control the logistics costs and to simplify your supply chain management requirements.
Using just any case hardening service is never a good idea. Instead, the OEM in Pennsylvania needs to carefully consider what the service is able to provide and how they are able to work with your company and your requirements.
The Basics of the Process
The use of case hardening is to create a durable, resistant type of surface on any metal or alloy. However, the correct application of heat and cooling is designed to only change the molecular structure of the surface layer, and have no impact on the deeper layers of the metal or alloy.
This means that the process of applying the heat and the cooling method does not change the physical structure of the internal part of the component, nor does it introduce the risk of adding stress to the part.
In some cases, mainly when there is a low carbon steel as the material in the part, the process includes the addition of nitrogen or carbon molecules into the surface. This results in a hard shell or case on the part that makes it more durable and resistant to wear. These attributes are critical for gears or other components with direct contact with other moving parts in the system.
The most significant advantage of the case hardening process is the ability to use the process at the end of the part or component manufacturing process, or when needed to allow welding or other processes with the part.
With different options in heat treatment hardening process to create the shell, a specialized service provider can work closely with the OEM to create the desired attributes and properties for any part.