The Situation
Case hardening improves both the wear resistance and the fatigue strength of parts under
dynamic and/or thermal stresses. The characteristics of case hardening are primarily
determined by surface hardness, the effective hardness depth, and the depth profile of the
residual stress.
Case hardness depth, or the thickness of the hardened layer, is an essential quality
attribute of the case hardening process. Currently, the quality of the hardening
process can only be evaluated by random sampling using destructive testing methods, which
are expensive and time consuming.
Our Solution
The time-consuming and often very costly cutting of samples is a
chore of the past. IZFP has developed a fast and relatively inexpensive nondestructive ultrasonic method to
determine case hardness depth. Both the testing effort (including the time factor)
and the cost of testing have been reduced. In addition, this ultrasonic system
allows for instant manufacturing control, which continuously assures high levels of
quality.
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