As you know GSI specializes in bespoke gears for industrial projects and today we are talking about induction hardening. It is one of the heat treatments we offer to ensure maximum hardness and wear resistance of the gears.
What is induction hardening
Induction hardening is a localized thermal process which aims to modify the mechanical properties of the hardness of a specific part of a gear. The workpiece is placed in close proximity to an inductor which creates a strong alternating magnetic field. This generates parasitic electric currents which, due to their resistance to crossing the piece, produce heat. Once the piece has been heated to about 900° - 950°, a rapid cooling is carried out with jets of cold liquids such as water or oil. This process creates a martensitic-like surface metal structure that is harder than the base metal.
Materials and advantages of induction hardening
Gears suitable for induction hardening are generally made of magnetic materials such as C40, C45, 39NiCRMo5 and 42CrMo4 steels. These are magnetic and respond well to the thermal process.
Induction hardening offers many advantages for gears. This process makes it possible to locate the area of greatest hardness very precisely, while maintaining toughness in other areas. These properties are ideal for applications requiring hardness against wear and toughness to resist fatigue. For example, a heavy duty hub like those used on trucks. The light area on the gear shows the area that has undergone induction hardening and therefore is harder, while the dark area is tougher and has not undergone heat treatment.
Induction hardening is an inexpensive operation that can be performed on only a specific part of the gear, placing less stress on the rest of the part. This makes induction hardening suitable for heavy-duty applications.
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