ASM Eisenman Camp 2025 Student Project: Failure Analysis of a Washing Machine Bolt and a Study on Decarburization

This talk begins with a reflection on the collaborative and mentorship-driven environment of the 2025 ASM Eisenman Materials Camp. The main activity at the Eisenman Camp was a failure analysis investigation where the fracture of a washing machine bolt was analyzed. Computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy were used to analyze both the internal structure and the fracture surface in order to determine the origin of the bolt’s failure. These techniques helped identify crack initiation sites and evaluate the role of material composition. A key focus of the investigation was surface decarburization, which was identified through metallographic preparation, optical microscopy, and hardness testing. It is hypothesized that the decarburized surface layer created a softer region and acted as a site for fatigue crack initiation under cyclic loading. The presentation also discusses how decarburization can be controlled and prevented in industrial practice through controlled furnace atmospheres, protective coatings, and optimized heat treatment conditions.