Simulation of the effects of temperature and time on the tempering behavior of carburized steels

The heat treating industry needs verified computer simulation tools to predict the carbon concentration profiles and microhardness profiles in carburized steels. Currently tools exist to predict the carbon concentration profiles for many carburization processes including endo-gas and vacuum. The models for the prediction of microhardness profiles as a function of tempering temperatures and times are being developed in this project using experimental results and the Hollomon – Jaffe analysis. The experimental results show that the hardness increases with carbon concentration and decreases with an increase in tempering temperature and time. The results will be used to enhance CarbTool© to predict the microhardness profiles of carburized steel as a function of tempering temperature and time.