SURFACE HARDENING. A generic term covering several processes applicable to a suitable ferrous alloy that produces, by quench hardening only, a surface layer that is harder or more wear resistant than the core. There is no significant alteration of the chemical composition of the surface layer. The processes commonly used are carbonitriding, carburizing, induction hardening, flame hardening, nitriding, and nitrocarburizing. Use of the applicable specific process name is preferred.
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SEVERITY OF QUENCH. Ability of quenching medium to extract heat from a hot steel workpiece; expressed in terms of the H value.
TEMPER COLOR. A thin, tightly adhering oxide skin that forms when steel is tempered at a low temperature, or for a short time, […]
SUPERHEATING. Heating above the temperature at which an equilibrium phase transformation should occur without actually obtaining the transformation.
STRESS EQUALIZING. A low-temperature heat treatment used to balance stresses in cold-worked material without an appreciable decrease in the mechanical strength produced by […]