The invention relates to a method for producing a sintered component comprising the steps: providing a metallic powder; filling the powder into a powder press; pressing the powder to form a green compact; removing the green compact from the powder press; sintering the green compact into a sintered component with pores; optional redensification of the sintered component; hardening of the sintered component, wherein the pores of the sintered component, prior to hardening at least in that region of the surface of the sintered component which is subjected to a hardening, are at least partially filled with a filling agent.

A method for low-temperature interstitial case formation on a self-passivating metal workpiece includes exposing the workpiece in a heated gaseous environment comprising oxygen to pyrolysis products of a nonpolymeric reagent comprising nitrogen and carbon.

A method for low-temperature interstitial case formation on a self-passivating metal workpiece includes exposing the workpiece in a heated gaseous environment comprising oxygen to pyrolysis products of a nonpolymeric reagent comprising nitrogen and carbon.

Metal components subject to wear or contact fatigue in a first area, and subject to bending, axial and/or torsional stress loading in a second area comprise a surface hardened, first surface layer in the first area, and a surface compressive-stress treated, second surface layer in the second area. The second surface layer has a material hardness different from, and typically lower than, the first surface layer, and induced residual compressive stress to improve fatigue strength. Example components described include a gear, a cog, a pinion, a rack, a splined shaft, a splined coupling, a torqueing tool and a nut driving tool. A hybrid manufacturing process is described, including area-selective surface hardening combined with a process to add compressive stress to fatigue failure prone areas.

Metal components subject to wear or contact fatigue in a first area, and subject to bending, axial and/or torsional stress loading in a second area comprise a surface hardened, first surface layer in the first area, and a surface compressive-stress treated, second surface layer in the second area. The second surface layer has a material hardness different from, and typically lower than, the first surface layer, and induced residual compressive stress to improve fatigue strength. Example components described include a gear, a cog, a pinion, a rack, a splined shaft, a splined coupling, a torqueing tool and a nut driving tool. A hybrid manufacturing process is described, including area-selective surface hardening combined with a process to add compressive stress to fatigue failure prone areas.

A hybrid method of surface hardening metallic components using a combination of chemical modification achieved through additive manufacturing and/or diffusion-based processing with transformation-based processing using a high energy density heat source. The hybrid process results in increased surface hardness and/or increased average case hardness and/or increased case depth compared to either treatment individually.

in a heat treatment method for a tubular shaft for a drive shaft having a ball spline structure for a plunging and an undercut region with a reduced diameter, a carburizing-austempering is performed such that a deep portion hardness of the undercut region is a value between HRC 35 to HRC 50.

in a heat treatment method for a tubular shaft for a drive shaft having a ball spline structure for a plunging and an undercut region with a reduced diameter, a carburizing-austempering is performed such that a deep portion hardness of the undercut region is a value between HRC 35 to HRC 50.

An example component of a machine includes a core layer and an outer layer encasing the core layer. The outer layer has a greater carbon concentration and hardness than the core layer. The outer layer may also be compressively stressed, while the core layer may have tensile stress. The stress and/or hardness profile of the component may enhance its resistance to cracking, particularly in applications where the component is impacted by other object and/or operates at elevated temperatures. The component, such as parts of a fuel injector, may be formed by rough forming the component, carburizing the component, quenching the component, subzero processing the component, and then performing a tempering process. The components may have relatively sharp transition from the high carbon outer layer to the lower carbon core layer. Additionally, the components have a relatively high tempering resistance when used in relatively high temperature environments.

A raw blank for vacuum carburization is provided. The raw blank for vacuum carburization has a chemical composition containing, by mass, C: 0.13 to 0.28%, Si: 0.01 to 1.20%, Mn: 0.10 to 1.50%, P: 0.030% or less, S: 0.050% or less, Cr: 0.30 to 2.20%, Al: 0.027 to 0.090%, N: 0.0060 to less than 0.0140%, and, as an optional element, Mo: 0.60% or less, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and satisfying the following formula (1). AlN precipitates having an equivalent circle diameter of 100 nm or more exist at 1.5 pieces/100 μm.sup.2 or less in a cross section of the raw blank.

Al×N≤0.00090  (1)

It is noted that element symbols in the formula (1) denote a value of content (% by mass) of each element.