Case hardening requires a finished part to be processed in a carburizing atmosphere, usually at a high temperature of 850–950 ° C, which increases the amount of carbon on the surface of the component. The hardened layer is usually 0.5-1.0 mm deep, but can also be deeper. After hardening, the component is quenched thus hardened. During quenching, the carburized layer is converted into martensite with a hardness determined according to the carbon content. The result is a product with a hard surface and a relatively soft core. Typical components made of case hardened steel are the gears in transmissions.
Qualities: 20NiCrMo2 (SAE 8620), 16MnCr5 – 1.7131 (SAE 5115), 20MnCr5 (SAE 5120), 16MnCrS5, 20MnCrS5, 17CrNiMo6, 16MnCrPb5, 15CrNi6, 18 CrNi8, C10 (SAE 1010), C15 (SAE 1015), 18NiCrMo5