An alternative fabrication method for carburizing steel using spark plasma sintering (SPS) is investigated. The sintered carburized sample, which exhibits surface modification effects such as carburizing, sintered Fe, and sintered Fe–0.8 wt.%C alloys, is fabricated using SPS. X-ray diffraction and micro Vickers tests are employed to confirm the phase and properties. Finite element analysis is performed to evaluate the change in hardness and analyze the carbon content and residual stress of the carburized sample. The change in the hardness of the carburized sample has the same tendency to predict hardness. The difference in hardness between the carburized sample and the predicted value is also discussed. The carburized sample exhibits a compressive residual stress at the surface. These results indicate that the carburized sample experiences a surface modification effect without carburization. Field emission scanning electron microscopy is employed to verify the change in phase. A novel fabrication method for altering the carburization is successfully proposed. We expect this fabrication method to solve the problems associated with carburization.

Recently, weight lightening is a key issue for various mechanical components to improve the fuel efficiency. For this reason, many researchers have been studying focused on the development of surface hardening treatment and metallic materials with high strength and wear resistance. In this study, we examine the formation of carbide at the surface of the gear machined by SCM420H steel after super-carburizing in order to improve the wear resistance of gear. The experimental results show that super-carburizing heat treatment gives rise to carbide dispersion across wider range of depth and higher carbon concentration than general carburizing heat treatment. Carbide having spheroidal or spherical shape had a size under 2 micro-meter produced in austenite grain boundaries or within austenite grains during super-carburizing. The super-carburized specimen maintained the hardness, HV700 above, at the 0.6mm depth and had a 10.4% lower coefficient of friction which was 0.766. This results from the dispersed carbide which lowered the coefficient of friction and ended up affecting wear resistance. Consequently, we conclude that super-carburizing heat treatment has more influence on the improvement of hardness, wear resistance compared to general carburizing heat treatment.

Powdered metal parts and components may be carburized successfully in a vacuum furnace by combining carburizing technology VacCarb™ with a hi-tech control system. This approach is different from traditional carburizing methods, because vacuum carburizing is a non-equilibrium process. It is not possible to set the carbon potential as in a traditional carburizing atmosphere and control its composition in order to obtain a desired carburized case. This paper presents test results that demonstrate that vacuum carburizing system VacCarb™ carburized P.M. materials faster than traditional steel with acceptable results. In the experiments conducted, PM samples with the lowest density and open porosity showed a dramatic increase in the surface carbon content up to 2.5%C and a 3 times deeper case. Currently the boost-diffusion technique is applied to control the surface carbon content and distribution in the case. In the first boost step, the flow of the carburizing gas has to be sufficient to saturate the austenite, while avoiding soot deposition and formation of massive carbides. To accomplish this goal, the proper gas flow rate has to be calculated. In the case of P.M. parts, more carbon can be absorbed by the part’s surface because of the additional internal surface area created by pores present in the carburized case. This amount will depend on the density of the part, the densification grade of the surface layer and the stage of the surface – “as machined” or “as sintered”. It is believed that enhanced gas diffusion after initial evacuation of the P.M. parts leads to faster carburization from within the pores, especially when pores are open – surface “as sintered” and interconnected – low density. A serious problem with vacuum carburizing is delivery of the carbon in a uniform manner to the work pieces. This led to the development of the different methods of carburizing gas circulation such as the pulse/pump method or the pulse/pause technique applied in SECO/WARWICK’s VacCarb™ Technology. In both cases, each pressure change may deliver fresh carburizing atmosphere into the pores and leads to faster carburization from within the pores. Since today’s control of vacuum carburizing is based largely on empirical results, presented experiments may lead to better understanding and improved control of the process.

현재 자동차용 소재 및 기계부품에 폭넓게 이용되는 SCM415강의 플라즈마 침탄 특성을 연구하기 위해 가스조성, 압력, 전류밀도, 온도 및 시간을 변수로 사용하였다. 가스조성의 경우 저합금강에서는 수소 가스 효과보다 메탄가스에 의해 주로 침탄특성이 좌우되며 메탄가스 100%일 때 시편 내의 모든 방향에서 경화층 분포가 일정하고, 최대의 유효경화깊이를 얻을 수 있었다. 가스압력이나 플라즈마 전압이 상승할 때 전류밀도가 상승하게 되는데, 이에 따라 최표면의 탄소농도가 증가되어 강의 유효경화깊이는 증대되었다. 침탄 온도일 경우 적어도 850˚C이상되어야 유효경화깊이를 얻을 수 있었고, 온도가 상승할수록 유효경화깊이의 증가를 나타내어 침탄 효과가 우수하였다. 탄소의 확산 깊이는 침탄 시간의 제곱근에 비례하는 것으로 나타났다. 플라즈마 치탄한 강의 피로강도를 평가한 결과 열처리하지 않은 시편이나 재가열처리한 시편에 비해 높은 피로강도를 나타내었다.