Vacuum Hardening

Heat treatment processes under vacuum reach the austenitization temperature by using radiant heat. Vacuum heat treatment processes can be executed with a heat up to 1,300°C. After heating completely through the work piece, a quenching process with, for instance, nitrogen as quenching agent will bring the work piece back to room temperature. Due to the absence of oxygen during vacuum heat treatment processes the possibility of scaling is eliminated which consequently leaves the parts bright and clean. Vacuum processes are especially appropriate to high-alloyed materials. With state of the art high-pressure quenching methods vacuum heat treatment processes are also partly suitable for medium-alloyed materials. These processes are exercised with a pressure up to 20 bar in a cold chamber.