STEEL CARBURIZING PROCESS UTILIZING ATMOSPHERES GENERATED FROM NITROZENETHANOL BASED MIXTURES

摘要

The carburizing process involves controlling the ethanol input into the furnace so that it comprises 1-50 (pref. 10-20) vol.% of the total nitrogen-ethanol input mixture. The ethanol contains a max. 15 vol.% water. After introducing the ethanol, the total flow of nitrogen and ethanol is maintained through the furnace to effect 2-6 (pref. 3-4) standard volume changes per ton for the total atoms in the furnace. Alternatively, the total input mixture is adjusted by water addition to give a nitrogen-ethanolwater mixture with an ethanol/water molar ratio of 1:1 and then controlling the carbon potential of the furnace atoms by adding an enriching agent (pref. natural gas).