ASM Online Member Community

Hello,

I am looking for some guidance. I've been wondering if there are any means to calculate a speculated hardness profile of a carburized cylinder without dedicated software. Assume it's a semi-infinite cylinder, and that the carbon potential, soaking temperature, chemistry are known. Shouldn't one be able to make predict the profile relatively easily?

Thanks,

Ife

Hello,

I am looking for some guidance. I've been wondering if there are any means to calculate a speculated hardness profile of a carburized cylinder without dedicated software. Assume it's a semi-infinite cylinder, and that the carbon potential, soaking temperature, chemistry are known. Shouldn't one be able to make predict the profile relatively easily?

Thanks,

Ife

Hi Ife,

it is me again.   I was overlooking in my previous reply, that you want to predict the hardness profile without dedicated software.

I'd say NO, that's NOT possible.  The hardness profile is depending on so many factors, most important on each alloy constituents, so that an easy estimate just isn't possible.

The same is applicable also for the carburizing profile as well.

Hello,

I am looking for some guidance. I've been wondering if there are any means to calculate a speculated hardness profile of a carburized cylinder without dedicated software. Assume it's a semi-infinite cylinder, and that the carbon potential, soaking temperature, chemistry are known. Shouldn't one be able to make predict the profile relatively easily?

Thanks,

Ife

Hello,

I am looking for some guidance. I've been wondering if there are any means to calculate a speculated hardness profile of a carburized cylinder without dedicated software. Assume it's a semi-infinite cylinder, and that the carbon potential, soaking temperature, chemistry are known. Shouldn't one be able to make predict the profile relatively easily?

Thanks,

Ife

It is possible, but you need to be aware of the limitations. Careful application of your results is required until any model is tested and qualified. There are numerous formulas that have been developed over the years to predict carbon profile. These formulas can be entered into a spreadsheet and will give a good approximation of carbon profile. You can then use hardenability data from your specific alloy to predict hardness. This will work best if you have the opportunity to tweak your model using real life data as these formulas are always a bit idealized. I have a spreadsheet that I have adjusted for my components that works fairly well.

A good source carburizing in general is this doctoral thesis by Olga Rowan of Caterpillar: https://digital.wpi.edu/concern/etds/tt44pm955?locale=en

This paper includes a table with various carbon diffusivity formulas which you can try.

Good luck!

Hello,

I am looking for some guidance. I've been wondering if there are any means to calculate a speculated hardness profile of a carburized cylinder without dedicated software. Assume it's a semi-infinite cylinder, and that the carbon potential, soaking temperature, chemistry are known. Shouldn't one be able to make predict the profile relatively easily?

Thanks,

Ife

Hello,

I am looking for some guidance. I've been wondering if there are any means to calculate a speculated hardness profile of a carburized cylinder without dedicated software. Assume it's a semi-infinite cylinder, and that the carbon potential, soaking temperature, chemistry are known. Shouldn't one be able to make predict the profile relatively easily?

Thanks,

Ife

Hi Ife,
Nice to hear from you.
This is a complex process. There are some ways to predict this hardness. For example, you can use ThermoCalc and the diffusion module Dictra, to predict the chemistry profile during the carburizing step. 
Using the predict chemistry profile, you can use the hardenability ASTM A255 standard to predict the hardness for each position assuming a low quench severity factor. 
Let me know if you need any guidance.
Best regards.

Hello,

I am looking for some guidance. I've been wondering if there are any means to calculate a speculated hardness profile of a carburized cylinder without dedicated software. Assume it's a semi-infinite cylinder, and that the carbon potential, soaking temperature, chemistry are known. Shouldn't one be able to make predict the profile relatively easily?

Thanks,

Ife

Mario,

Hope all is well! I suspect that I will use something akin to the Dr. Van Aken's calculator. It would be a modified version of course. We have access to Dante and various other resources here. My first step is just developing a basic ideal model that I can manipulate easily. That data will then be fitted to real data that we have.

Hi Ife,
Nice to hear from you.
This is a complex process. There are some ways to predict this hardness. For example, you can use ThermoCalc and the diffusion module Dictra, to predict the chemistry profile during the carburizing step. 
Using the predict chemistry profile, you can use the hardenability ASTM A255 standard to predict the hardness for each position assuming a low quench severity factor. 
Let me know if you need any guidance.
Best regards.

Hello,

I am looking for some guidance. I've been wondering if there are any means to calculate a speculated hardness profile of a carburized cylinder without dedicated software. Assume it's a semi-infinite cylinder, and that the carbon potential, soaking temperature, chemistry are known. Shouldn't one be able to make predict the profile relatively easily?

Thanks,

Ife