Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system including: an enclosure having an interior sized to enclose and the workpiece and form a vacuum and pressurized atmosphere within the interior. A plurality of thermal applicators may be in thermal communication with first and second portions of the interior. First and second thermal applicators may independently heat and cool the first and second portions of the interior. The first thermal applicator may apply a first thermal treatment to a first portion of the workpiece in the first portion of the interior. A second thermal applicator may apply a second thermal treatment to a second portion of the workpiece in the second portion of the interior independently of the first thermal treatment.

Elements formed from magnetic materials and their methods of manufacture are presented. Magnetic materials include a magnetic alloy material, such as, for example, an Fe-Co alloy material (e.g., the Fe-Co-V alloy Hiperco-50(R)). The magnetic alloy materials may comprise a powdered material suitable for use in additive manufacturing techniques, such as, for example direct energy deposition or laser powder bed fusion. Manufacturing techniques include the use of variable deposition time and energy to control the magnetic and structural properties of the materials by altering the microstructure and residual stresses within the material. Manufacturing techniques also include post deposition processing, such as, for example, machining and heat treating. Heat treating may include a multi-step process during which the material is heated, held and then cooled in a series of controlled steps such that a specific history of stored internal energy is created within the material. Magnetic elements may include, for example, motors, generators, solenoids and swtiches, sensors, transformers, and hall thrusters, among other elements.

The present invention provides a method for obtaining a carburized part using steel high in content of Cr and realizing bending fatigue strength at an extremely high level by vacuum carburizing. The carburized part is obtained by treating a steel material having a predetermined chemical composition by vacuum carburizing provided with a carburizing period of 10 to 200 minutes at 850 to 1100° C. and a diffusion period of 15 to 300 minutes at 850 to 1100° C., then quenching and tempering it.

A thermal treatment device includes a heating chamber which heats an object to be treated; and a moisture removal chamber which is provided adjacent to the heating chamber to put in and out of the object to be treated toward the heating chamber, and in which a vacuum atmosphere is created in the periphery of the object to be treated.

A thermal treatment device includes a heating chamber which heats an object to be treated; and a moisture removal chamber which is provided adjacent to the heating chamber to put in and out of the object to be treated toward the heating chamber, and in which a vacuum atmosphere is created in the periphery of the object to be treated.

The invention describes a method of heat-treating an article, which includes a first step of heating the article to a temperature of 400° C. to 500° C. at a pressure of 1 to 3 millibar in an atmosphere comprising hydrogen for a period of 0.1 to 50 hours to produce a hot article, a second step of heating the hot article at a temperature of 400° C. to 500° C. at a pressure of 1 to 3 millibar in an atmosphere comprising at least one of hydrogen, argon, and nitrogen, for 0.1 to 50 hours to produce a preliminary heat treated article, and a third step of heating the preliminary heat treated article at a temperature of 400° C. to 500° C. at a pressure of 1 to 3 millibar in an atmosphere comprising at least one of hydrogen, nitrogen, and a hydrocarbon gas, for 0.1 to 50 hours; to produce a heat-treated article.

A device and a method for continuous temperature gradient heat treatment of a rod-shaped material are disclosed. The furnace body of the device includes an upper heating zone and a lower heating zone inside, which are independently controlled in temperature by means of an upper heating power supply and a lower heating power supply. Moreover, both the upper heating zone and the lower heating zone are closed heating zones. The closed heat insulation plates could prevent heat loss and ensure precise temperature control of the upper heating zone and the lower heating zone. In the device, a vacuum pumping equipment is included; an annular radiation screen is configured between the upper heating zone and the lower heating zone, and the rod-shaped material is not in contact with the annular radiation screen. The rod-shaped material conducts one-dimensional heat transfer along the axial direction.

A device and a method for continuous temperature gradient heat treatment of a rod-shaped material are disclosed. The furnace body of the device includes an upper heating zone and a lower heating zone inside, which are independently controlled in temperature by means of an upper heating power supply and a lower heating power supply. Moreover, both the upper heating zone and the lower heating zone are closed heating zones. The closed heat insulation plates could prevent heat loss and ensure precise temperature control of the upper heating zone and the lower heating zone. In the device, a vacuum pumping equipment is included; an annular radiation screen is configured between the upper heating zone and the lower heating zone, and the rod-shaped material is not in contact with the annular radiation screen. The rod-shaped material conducts one-dimensional heat transfer along the axial direction.

A bearing component composed of a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium alloyed tool steel is produced by a process that includes: (i) performing a first preheating within a temperature range of 600-650° C., (ii) performing a second preheating within a temperature range of 850-900° C., (iii) austenitizing in vacuum at 1000-1180° C. for 20-40 min, (iv) gas quenching at a minimum of 4-5 bar overpressure, and (v) tempering by performing either a double temper at 520-560° C. for 1.5-2.5 hours in each temper, or a triple temper at 520-560° C. for 0.5-1.5 hours in each temper. The steel alloy may be composed (in mass percent) of 1.32-1.45 C, 0.32-0.50 Si, 0.26-0.48 Mn, 4.0-4.85 Cr, 3.35-3.55 Mo, 3.55-3.85 V, 0-0.13 W, 0-0.20 Ni, 0-0.15 Cu, 0-0.8 Co, 0-0.03 P, and 0-0.03 S, the balance being iron and unavoidable impurities. Mo may be replaced with W or vice versa in a replacement ratio Mo:W of 1:2.

Elements formed from magnetic materials and their methods of manufacture are presented. Magnetic materials include a magnetic alloy material, such as, for example, an Fe—Co alloy material (e.g., the Fe—Co—V alloy Hiperco-50®). The magnetic alloy materials may comprise a powdered material suitable for use in additive manufacturing techniques, such as, for example direct energy deposition or laser powder bed fusion. Manufacturing techniques include the use of variable deposition time and energy to control the magnetic and structural properties of the materials by altering the microstructure and residual stresses within the material. Manufacturing techniques also include post deposition processing, such as, for example, machining and heat treating. Heat treating may include a multi-step process during which the material is heated, held and then cooled in a series of controlled steps such that a specific history of stored internal energy is created within the material. Magnetic elements may include, for example, motors, generators, solenoids and switches, sensors, transformers, and hall thrusters, among other elements.