Decarburization

Loss of carbon from the surface during heating in an oxidising atmosphere, leaving a soft skin that lowers fatigue and wear performance. Specifications for spring and bearing steels limit its depth; protective atmospheres and machining allowances control it.

More terms

Annealing · Austenite · Bainite · Carbon equivalent (CEV) · Carburizing · Case hardening · Charpy impact test · Cold drawn · Elongation (A) · ESR (electroslag remelting) · Ferrite · Grain size