Surface analysis of SAE 3310 carburized steel in environment saturated with carbon nanofibers

The carburizing process is described by the reaction between environment atmosphere and metal surface followed by carbon transfer in a metal matrix. The main issue of heat treatment consist in ensuring the carburizing controlled atmosphere with a superior carbon potential level than metal surface of steel, in the carburizing furnace at a temperature that ensures process development. Obtaining carbon nanofibers relatively easily led to a new carburizing treatment, in the atmosphere full of carbon nanofibers. The use of nanomaterials for carburizing requires less time and best diffusion. The most common area of carbon concentration and residual austenite presence, the edges and corners are sensible reduced, the hardness is higher than the hardness obtained in regular carburizing treatment. Experiments made on samples of steel SAE 3310 have demonstrated the beneficial role of the presence of carbon nanofibers in carburizing atmosphere. It has developed the conclusion that the carburized layer properties depend on the amount of carbon nanofibers, during carburizing.