Induction hardening involves passing a high-frequency alternating current through a suitably-shaped coil to induce rapid heating of the component surface situated appropriately within its electro-magnetic field. Depth of hardening is controlled by the parameters of the induction heating equipment, time of application and the hardenability of the material. A variety of manipulation procedures can be employed to suit the geometry of the component including ‘single-shot hardening’ in which the entire area to be hardened is heated in one operation then quenched, and ‘progressive hardening’ which involves relative movement between the heating coil, quench head and the workpiece.
What are the benefits of induction hardening?
- Induction hardening imparts a hard, wear-resistant surface to the component whilst improving its fatigue strength through the development of residual surface compressive stresses in suitably deep cases.
- Only the surface is heated and quenched, therefore heat treatment distortion can be minimised.
- Faster localised cooling rates permit higher surface hardness values than might be achieved by through hardening.
- Deeper hardening can be obtained than with thermo-chemical treatments. Depending upon process parameters, hardened depths can be in the range 0.5-10mm.
- Localised hardening can be used to strengthen components at critical points while leaving other areas soft, without the need for the stopping-off procedures required in thermochemical case-hardening.
- Induction hardening offer options for the treatment of exceptionally large components, where conventional furnace heating and cooling would be impractical and where only localised surface hardening is necessary.
- Both techniques can be automated for reproducible results once the processing parameters have been set.
Wuxi YUTONG as a professional induction hardened chrome plated rod factory, there are various types of CK45 chrome rods/bars/shafts we have in stocks are standard hard chrome rods and induction hardened chromed rods . Other types of steel rods such as nickel-chrome rod and hollow chrome rods are also available on request.