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Article: Atmospheres for the hardening of steel. (furnace atmospheres)(includes related article)(Heat Treating Progress)
- Article from:
- Advanced Materials & Processes
- Article date:
- March 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 ASM International. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Furnace atmospheres protect steel surfaces from oxidation, change chemistry by adding or removing carbon or nitrogen, and provide a vehicle for heat transfer or loss.
Since time immemorial, atmospheres in one form or another have been used to protect steel surfaces against degradation or to impart properties that would otherwise be unobtainable. Samurai sword smiths unknowingly modified the surfaces of their swords by heating in a charcoal fire. The subsequent quenching into the body of a live prisoner was apparently thought to be the magical element that gave the sword its superior properties. In the 17th century, blacksmiths wrapped tools in micturated leather ...