Diffusion

Technical Applications

· Mechanical components frequently require different material properties at their surface to improve wear performance.
· Case hardening of mechanical components by diffusing carbon or nitrogen into the iron alloy of the component increases the surface hardness and improves lifetime against wear.
· Carbon diffuses into the alloy by an interstitial mechanism. The surface concentration of carbon is kept constant during diffusion giving an error function profile for carbon in iron.

From: Callister,
"Materials Science & Engineering," Wiley (1994)