Continental Furnaces’ Gas Carburizing Furnace (GCF) provides precise carbon enrichment of steel component surfaces, creating a hard, wear-resistant case while maintaining a tough, ductile core. This furnace features advanced atmosphere control for consistent carburizing results and optimal case depth uniformity.
Key Features
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Controlled Atmosphere Chamber: Precise carbon potential management
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Endothermic Gas Generation: On-site atmosphere production
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Multi-Zone Temperature Control: Uniform heating throughout chamber
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Integrated Oil Quench Tank: Complete heat treatment cycle
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Carbon Potential Monitoring: Real-time atmosphere analysis
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Sealed Retort Design: Minimal atmosphere leakage
Technical Specifications
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Design Type: Sealed chamber with controlled atmosphere
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Heating Method: Gas-fired or electric heating elements
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Temperature Range: 850°C to 950°C (carburizing temperature)
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Atmosphere: Endothermic gas + enriching gas (propane/methane)
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Carbon Potential Control: 0.6% to 1.2% surface carbon
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Case Depth Range: 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm (customizable)
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Quench Medium: Oil (fast or medium speed oils)
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Control System: Advanced PLC with recipe management
Advantages
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Precise Case Depth Control: Consistent results batch after batch
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Excellent Surface Quality: Minimal oxidation and scaling
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Uniform Carburizing: Even carbon penetration across all surfaces
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Reduced Distortion: Controlled heating and quenching
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Energy Efficient: Optimized atmosphere consumption
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Repeatable Results: Recipe-driven process control
Carburizing Process Stages
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Loading: Component placement on fixtures
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Heating: Temperature ramp to carburizing range
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Carburizing: Carbon diffusion at controlled potential
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Diffusion: Carbon penetration into core (optional)
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Quenching: Rapid cooling for hardness development
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Tempering: Stress relief and toughness enhancement
Applications
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Automotive Gears: Transmission and differential gears
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Bearing Components: Races, cages, and rolling elements
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Camshafts: Engine timing components
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Crankshafts: Heavy-duty engine components
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Fasteners: High-strength bolts and screws
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Chain Links: Industrial and drive chains
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Splines and Shafts: Power transmission components
Industries Served
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Automotive manufacturing
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Agricultural equipment
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Construction machinery
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Aerospace components
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Oil and gas equipment
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Industrial gearbox manufacturing
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Power transmission
Carburizing Methods Available
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Gas Carburizing: Hydrocarbon gas enrichment
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Carbonitriding: Carbon and nitrogen diffusion
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Boost-Diffuse Carburizing: Optimized cycle for efficiency
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Vacuum Carburizing: High-pressure gas quench (optional)
Atmosphere System Components
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Endothermic Gas Generator: Base atmosphere production
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Enriching Gas Supply: Propane or natural gas addition
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Carbon Potential Analyzer: Oxygen probe monitoring
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Flow Control System: Precise gas metering
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Circulation Fans: Uniform atmosphere distribution
Quench System Design
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Oil Quench Tank: Integrated or separate design
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Agitation System: Uniform cooling rates
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Oil Cooling: Temperature maintenance system
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Fume Extraction: Safe vapor removal
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Fire Protection: Automatic suppression system
Material Compatibility
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Low Carbon Steels: SAE 1010, 1020, 1022
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Low Alloy Steels: SAE 4120, 8620, 4320
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Specialty Alloys: Custom carburizing grades
Case Depth and Hardness Targets
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Effective Case Depth: Typically 0.5-2.0 mm
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Total Case Depth: Up to 3.0 mm or more
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Surface Hardness: 58-63 HRC typical
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Core Hardness: 30-45 HRC depending on alloy
Process Control Features
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Recipe storage for multiple part types
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Real-time carbon potential monitoring
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Temperature uniformity surveys
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Atmosphere composition analysis
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Data logging and traceability
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Automatic cycle progression
Energy and Operational Efficiency
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Recuperative burner systems
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Insulated chamber design
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Optimized atmosphere consumption
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Quick heating cycles
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Minimal downtime between batches
Safety and Environmental Compliance
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Sealed chamber design prevents emissions
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Automatic atmosphere monitoring
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Emergency cooling systems
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Quench tank fire suppression
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Operator safety interlocks
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Environmental compliance features
Furnace Configurations
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Batch Integral Quench Furnace: Single chamber with oil quench
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Continuous Pusher Furnace: High-volume production
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Pit Type Carburizing Furnace: Vertical design for long parts
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Multi-Chamber System: Separate heating and quenching
Quality Assurance
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Metallographic case depth verification
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Hardness testing at multiple depths
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Microstructure evaluation
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Distortion measurement
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Process validation protocols
Why Choose Continental Furnaces?
Continental Furnaces’ Gas Carburizing Furnaces deliver precise, repeatable results backed by advanced atmosphere control technology. Our ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing ensures quality, while our experienced team provides comprehensive support from design through commissioning.
