Laser hardening

The parts heated by laser beams and brought to the austenite field are then cooled with air and hardened.

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Parts that cannot be heat treated with traditional methods can be hardened with laser.

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In laser hardening, the shell of a carbon-containing (min. 0.2%) workpiece made of steel or cast iron is heated to just below its melting temperature (usually 900 to 1400°C).

 

Approximately 40% of the radiated power is absorbed by the material surface. High temperature causes rearrangement of carbon atoms in the metal lattice (austenitization).

When the nominal temperature is reached, the laser beam begins to move, thereby continuously heating the surface in the direction of travel.

As the laser beam advances, the surrounding material cools itself or quenching is achieved by blowing air. As a result of rapid cooling, the metal lattice transforms into martensite. This causes a significant increase in hardness

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Complex automotive parts, automotive molds that are too large for furnaces, and bending tools are hardened with this method.

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Suitable qualities,

• Medium and high carbon steels

  • SAE 1040 and 42CrMo4

• Tool steels​

  • 1.2382, 1.2379

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