Case hardening

[northwest]

Does anyone know if EN8, EN16 or EN24 are suitable for case hardening? Ideally I should be using EN32 or EN36 but I don't have any/can't find any and really don't want to buy a length for what is a small job.
I need to make a small tool and the efforts so far have failed as it really isn't suited to be made from D1, I feel I might be more successful if I case harden it. I have a small tin of (closely guarded) Kasenit so I could be good to go.

 

[TechnicAl]

Kasenit should harden all those grades

 

[northwest]

Thanks Al, I thought it would but are you not better off starting with a low carbon steel for case hardening? The idea is I get a hard outer shell with a tough core that will give a little, I was concerned that the steel would self harden then I would be back to square one.

I will use a bit of EN24 as that is tough stuff and let you know how I get on.

 

[TechnicAl]

Thanks Al, I thought it would but are you not better off starting with a low carbon steel for case hardening? The idea is I get a hard outer shell with a tough core that will give a little, I was concerned that the steel would self harden then I would be back to square one.

I will use a bit of EN24 as that is tough stuff and let you know how I get on.

It depends what you want to use it for.......Kasenit adds C and N which forms hard carbides and Nitrides (or even carbonitrides)....the higher the carbon the more readily they will form.........but yes the higher carbon steel will already be harder than lower carbon steel.......
There is another school of thought...........if you put a sheet of glass (hard layer) on a piece of rubber (soft core) and pressure will move the core and break the glass.........same sheet of glass placed on a piece of hardwood wont move and wont break.

 

[northwest]

Interesting concept, thanks for that.

 

[timgunn1962]

Kasenit is/was usually used for low-Carbon steels and whenever I have used it, it has been with a water quench, which didn't seem to be a problem for the simple stuff I was doing back then. If you are messing with EN24, it is usually an oil-hardening steel. Water-quenching to get the the case-hardened layer fully hard might be a bit quick for the steel beneath. I'd try a test-piece first.

 

[frank horton]

one of my best friends worked for a company that used Stellite to weld up valve balls, talking 6" dia and he used to machine them round again....

 

[TechnicAl]

one of my best friends worked for a company that used Stellite to weld up valve balls, talking 6" dia and he used to machine them round again....

Stellite is very tough and hard and very very expensive..........did he machine them or grind them?

 

[TechnicAl]

Kasenit is/was usually used for low-Carbon steels and whenever I have used it, it has been with a water quench, which didn't seem to be a problem for the simple stuff I was doing back then. If you are messing with EN24, it is usually an oil-hardening steel. Water-quenching to get the the case-hardened layer fully hard might be a bit quick for the steel beneath. I'd try a test-piece first.

Thats true but you dont have to quench it.........depends what you want from it