Hardening (Leaving Cert Engineering): Flashcards

Heat treatment: high temp heating + rapid cooling for hardness & strength

Sufficient carbon content must be present

Crystal structure formed when steel heated to high temp

Water, oil, or brine

Hard, needle-like crystal structure from rapid cooling

Extremely hard but very brittle

To reduce brittleness of hardened steel

Hard surface on low carbon steel, tough core

Less than 2%

Component surrounded by graphite powder, heated in oven

Component immersed in carbon-rich liquid & heated

Oxy-acetylene torch creates carbon-rich flame