Low Temperature Carburizing Method for Uniform Layer Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing low-temperature carburizing methods face challenges in forming a uniform and high-quality carburizing layer on metals, particularly those with complex shapes, due to issues like natural oxide films and reduced corrosion resistance.

Innovation Solution

A low-temperature carburizing method involving pre-processing to remove natural oxide films, followed by a vacuum atmosphere and a mixed gas of hydrogen and acetylene at specific pressures for accelerated and spread carburization, with repeated cycles to enhance layer formation and hardness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high temperature carburizing is used, then carburizing speed is improved, but corrosion resistance deteriorates due to nitride and carbide precipitation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarburizing speedVSAvoidcorrosion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter from conventional high temperature (900-1100°C) to low temperature (200-500°C) carburizing, fundamentally altering the process conditions to achieve both high carburizing speed and maintained corrosion resistance by preventing harmful phase precipitation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If low temperature carburizing is used, then corrosion resistance is improved, but carburizing layer formation becomes difficult due to natural oxide film

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidcarburizing layer formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing pickling treatment before carburizing to remove the natural oxide film, creating a clean surface that enables effective low-temperature carburizing without the oxide film barrier

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pressure parameter by applying vacuum (reducing pressure) during low-temperature carburizing, which prevents oxide film formation and enhances carbon diffusion into the metal surface, enabling effective carburizing layer formation at low temperatures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If vacuum atmosphere is used during low temperature carburizing, then oxide film formation is prevented, but process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxide film preventionVSAvoidvacuum system requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses vacuum atmosphere as an inert environment during low-temperature carburizing to prevent oxide film formation on the metal surface, creating optimal conditions for carbon diffusion without oxidation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method effectively forms a uniform carburizing layer with improved mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, suitable for metals with complex shapes, reducing the need for post-processing and enhancing carburizing ability.

Implementation Method 1

introducing a reaction gas thereinto at a predetermined pressure to accelerate carburization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

forming a vacuum atmosphere in the reaction chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 3

heating the same to a set temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

removing or weakening a natural oxide film by performing a pickling process for the metal to be processed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical etching:

Data Source

PatentEP3369841B1Low temperature carburizing method
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
  • EP3369841B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3369841B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3369841B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A low temperature carburizing method according to the present invention comprises: step (a) for pre-processing a metal to be processed; step (b) for inputting the metal to be processed to a reaction chamber and heating the same to a set temperature; step (c) for forming a vacuum atmosphere in the reaction chamber and introducing a reaction gas thereinto at a predetermined pressure to accelerate carburization; step (d) for supplying the reaction gas to the reaction chamber at a pressure equal to or lower than the pressure of the reaction gas of step (c) to spread carburization; and step (e) for repeating step (c) and step (d) at predetermined time intervals.