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Furnace atmospheres no. 2.

Neutral hardening
and annealing.
02 Neutral hardening and annealing

Preface.

This expert edition is part of a series on process

application technology and know-how available
from Linde Gas. It describes findings in development
and research as well as extensive process
knowledge gained through numerous customer
installations around the world. The focus is on the
use and control of furnace atmospheres; however a
brief introduction is also provided for each process.

1. Gas carburising and carbonitriding

2. Neutral hardening and annealing
3. Gas nitriding and nitrocarburising
4. Brazing of metals
5. Low pressure carburising and high pressure gas quenching
6. Sintering of steels
 Neutral hardening and annealing 03

Passion for innovation.

Linde Gas Research Centre in Unterschleissheim, Germany.

With R&D centres in Europe, North America and China, Linde Gas is More Information? Contact Us!
leading the way in the development of state-of-the-art application Linde AG, Gases Division,
technologies. In these R&D centres, Linde's much valued experts Carl-von-Linde-Strasse 25, 85716 Unterschleissheim, Germany
are working closely together with great access to a broad spectrum
of technology platforms in order to provide the next generation of [email protected], www.heattreatment.linde.com,
atmosphere supply and control functionality for furnaces in heat www.linde.com, www.linde-gas.com
treatment processes. As Linde is a trusted partner to many companies
in the heat treatment industry, our research and development goals
and activities are inspired by market and customer insights and industry
trends and challenges. The expert editions on various heat treatment
processes reflect the latest developments.
04 Neutral hardening and annealing

Contents.

Preface2 4. Atmosphere generation, gas supply 20

4.1 Nitrogen supply 21

Passion for innovation 3 4.2 Argon supply  22
4.3 Hydrogen supply 22
4.4 Methanol supply 22
1. Introduction 6 4.6 In-situ methanol cracking  23
4.7 Nitrogen and external atmosphere generators  24

2. Process 7
5. Atmosphere control 26
2.1 Annealing processes 7
2.1.1. Recrystallisation 7 5.1 Atmosphere constituents and their functions  26
2.1.2. Stress relieving 7 5.2 Oxidation control  27
2.1.3 Solution annealing and precipitation hardening 8 5.3 Carbon control 31
2.1.4. Isothermal annealing 9 5.4 Relation between carbon and oxygen control 32
2.1.5. Soft annealing 9
2.1.6. Normalising 10
2.2 Hardening and tempering processes 10 5.5 Nitrogen pick-up 33
5.6 Hydrogen embrittlement 34
5.7 Lubricant removal 35
3. Furnace and equipment 14 5.8 Buffering capacity 36
5.9 Non-equilibrium  37
3.1 For annealing 14 5.10 Gas flow rate and flow pattern 37
3.2 For hardening 14 5.11 The atmosphere control system 38
3.3 Vacuum furnaces 16 5.12 Examples of applications 40
3.4 Atmosphere equipment 17 5.12.1 Stress relieving and tempering of steels 40
3.4.1 High-speed gas injection for improved gas 5.12.2 Annealing of aluminium strip coils 40
homogeneity17 5.12.3 Copper wire coil annealing 41
3.4.2 High-speed gas injection for improved cooling 18 5.12.4 CARBOFLEX atmospheres 42
3.4.3 Methanol injectors and pumps 19 5.12.5 Steel tube annealing  42
3.4.4 Sample gas handling 19 5.12.6 Hardening of steel parts  42
5.12.7 Stainless steel tube annealing  43
5.12.9 Continuous stainless steel wire annealing  44
5.12.10 Annealing of copper and brass strip coils  44
5.12.11 Copper tube annealing  44
5.12.12 Decarburisation annealing  45
 Neutral hardening and annealing 05

5.12.13 Steel strip coil annealing  46 References62

5.13 Vacuum as atmosphere 46
5.13.1 Classification of vacuum systems 46
5.13.2 The role of gas in vacuum heat treatment  47 Appendix 1. Equilibrium constants 63
5.13.3 Vapour pressure 48
5.13.4 Dissociation and reduction of oxides 48
5.13.5 Contaminants and leak testing 49 Appendix 2. Physical data for gases 64
5.14 Heat transfer 49
5.14.1 Convective heating and cooling  49
5.14.2 Comparison with oil quenching 52 Appendix 3. Useful equations 65
5.15 Selection of atmosphere  53
5.15.1 The alloy requirements of the atmosphere –
step 1  53 Appendix 4. Pressure unit conversions 66
5.15.2 Review of chemical properties of atmospheres –
step 2 53
5.15.3 Restrictions with respect to temperature and
heat transfer – step 3  54
5.15.4 Restrictions with regard to furnace – step 4 55
5.15.5 Restrictions with regard to quality – step 5 55
5.15.6 Make final choice – step 6 55
5.16 Atmosphere systems for vacuum heat treatment 56

6. Safety 58

6.1 Safety awareness 58

6.2 Gases used in the process 58
6.3 Potential safety hazards and their sources 58
6.3.1 Explosions/flammability/fire 59
6.3.2 Toxicity and asphyxiation 60
6.3.3 Cold burn hazards 60
6.3.4 Pressurised piping and the gas expansion hazard 60
6.4 Control of safety hazards 60
6.4.1 General safety regulations and guidelines 60
6.4.2 Explosions/flammability/fire 60
6.5 Safe use of gases along the value chain 61
06 Neutral hardening and annealing

1. Introduction.

In order to achieve specific properties and the desired surface quality

after heat treatment of a steel object, numerous process parameters
need to be controlled. A most critical parameter is the composition,
function and control of the furnace atmosphere. In annealing/hardening
processes, the major function of the atmosphere is to provide the right
oxidation and carbon potential in order to produce oxide-free surfaces
with no decarburisation. Therefore, it is important to ensure a reliable
supply of required gases and process gas blends but also to integrate
leading application technologies to enable precision control of furnace
atmospheres to achieve desired product specifications of steels and
metal alloy objects.

The purpose of this expert edition is to deliver a comprehensive

overview of annealing and hardening processes with critical influencing
parameters in terms of the required equipment and furnace atmosphere
in a deep technical way. This expert edition should deliver valuable
background information on a complex topic in a structured, single
document in order to achieve a higher confidence level in the readers’
business decisions. Hardening is normally described separately from
annealing. However, since the furnace atmosphere requirements are
similar for both processes, they are treated together in this booklet.

Each of the expert editions has a similar content structure. The first part
focuses on the process, speaking about the basic principles of different
annealing and hardening processes as well as the related properties. The
next section focuses on the different types of furnaces and the required
equipment in the process. The furnace atmosphere generation and
required gas supply are highlighted in the fourth section; the interaction
between furnace atmosphere and steel surface and how to control the
atmosphere is described in the fifth section. As flammable, asphyxiating
and toxic gases are used in annealing and hardening processes, safety
issues need to be addressed in the last section; this is an important
concern of Linde Gas.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 07

2. Process.
Hardness Temperature Yield strength Residual stress

New undeformed grains Stress relieving

temperature

Tension
+
Temperature

Hardness
σy
Recrystallisation
Temperature 0
Temperature Distance

Compression
Deformed grains – Weld
Time

Figure 1: The left part of the figure shows how the crystal grains are very elongated Figure 2: The yield stress of a metal falls with increased temperature (left part of
and deformed. The hardness is high. When heating to a high enough temperature, figure). Around a weld there is a residual stress state as shown in the right part of the
new crystal grains are formed. The hardness is then lowered. figure. During stress relieving, the temperature is increased so that stresses within the
shadowed areas are revealed due to plastic deformation.

2.1 Annealing processes

In this booklet, we use the term annealing for heat treatment processes Typical temperatures for recrystallisation annealing of different alloys
which require a neutral (or inert) controlled atmosphere, and where are given in Table 1. Higher temperatures and/or a longer time at
the aim is to produce certain (non-martensitic) microstructures and temperature will give a coarser grain size and lower hardness. For
properties. specific combinations of degree of deformation, temperature, and time,
abnormal grain growth may occur. The result will be abnormally large
2.1.1. Recrystallisation grains, which is normally detrimental for performance properties.
Recrystallisation annealing is typically done between cold deformation
passes, such as in cold rolling of strip, or in wire drawing. During Recrystallisation annealing is sometimes done as a final treatment to
annealing, new undeformed crystal grains are formed. These new give the alloy/product certain bulk and surface properties. Quench
grains then consume the deformed crystal grains. The driving force for annealing of austenitic Cr/Ni steels is one such example. (See also the
recrystallisation is given by the stored plastic deformation (dislocation section Solution annealing and precipitation hardening.)
density). Both the nucleation rate and grain growth increase with
the degree of deformation. A certain critical degree of deformation 2.1.2. Stress relieving
is required for recrystallisation to occur. Grain growth rate increases The purpose of stress relieving is, as evident from the process name,
exponentially with increased temperature, whereas nucleation rate to relieve stresses in order to avoid warping or distortions of the parts
increases with lowered temperatures. After annealing, the hardness of when in use or at later production stages. Stress relieving is carried out
the metal is lowered. typically on welded parts (see the principle in Figure 2) and on cold
deformed or machined parts. Stress relieving is performed at a lower
During the processing of tube, plate, strip and wire, many intermediate temperature than recrystallisation annealing; compare Tables 1 and 2.
annealings may be required between passes of cold rolling, drawing, Recovery is a process that decreases the internal energy in the metal by
or any other cold deformation process in order to soften the material dislocation rearrangement (but not annihilation of dislocations as after
to enable further cold deformation before the strip, wire or tube has recrystallisation). There is no notable change in hardness and no visible
reached the final thickness. As the last annealing is done near, just change in microstructure as viewed in a light or scanning microscope.
before, or even just after the final cold deformation, thus before the Its practical importance is that internal residual stresses are removed. If
final delivery status, it follows that there is often a bright surface quality not performed, these stresses may be released uncontrollably and cause
requirement on the annealed product. The term bright annealing is then distortion or even failure of a ready-made product. Internal stresses also
used. Bright annealing is especially required for thin products where can cause stress corrosion, specifically in austenitic stainless steels and
oxides or other surface defects may be cold rolled or pressed into the in brass.
product and cause loss of mechanical properties.
08 Neutral hardening and annealing

Solution annealing
α α+β β

Temperature
Temperature

Quench
Solubility limit
Aging
for B in α

A %B B Time

Figure 3: Schematic phase diagram for an alloy of the elements A and B. The element Figure 4: Precipitation hardening. The first step, solution annealing, brings the main
B goes into solid solution in the A-rich α-phase up to a concentration determined by alloying element into solid solution. After the quench, the alloying elements are
the solubility limit line. ”frozen” in solid solution. The third step, aging, is heating to a temperature which
allows diffusion and formation of precipitates.

Table 1. Recrystallisation annealing temperatures Based on these examples, it is understandable that stress relieving
is performed to a greater extent by the manufacturing industry as
Temperature compared to recrystallisation annealing, which is done more in steel and
°C °F metal mills.
Low-alloy steel 650–700  1200–1300
Austenitic stainless steel 950–1150 1740–2100 2.1.3 Solution annealing and precipitation hardening
Ferritic stainless steel 650–1050 1200–1920 Solution annealing is a heat treatment process to bring one or several
Duplex stainless steel 950–1175 1740–2150 alloying elements into solid solution. The principle utilised is that the
Cu-alloys 250–825  480–1520 solubility of the alloying elements increases with increased temperature.
Al-alloys 260–480  500–900  This is illustrated in Figure 3, where the solubility of the element B in the
Ni-alloys 750–1200 1380–2200 A-rich α-phase increases with increased temperature.
Ti-alloys 650–900  1200–1650
After bringing the alloying element into solution at the solution
Table 2. Typical stress relieving temperatures annealing temperature, there is normally a rapid quench (shown in
Figure 4) to keep the solute in solution. After this process step, the alloy
Temperature is normally soft.
°C °F
Low-alloy steel 550–650 1020–1200 Solution annealing, sometimes called quench annealing, is performed
Tool steel/High-speed steel 600–750 1110–1380 on austenitic Cr/Ni steels to bring chromium into solid solution, which is
Al-alloys 200–350 390–660 needed to yield corrosion protection and make the steel ”stainless”.
Ni-alloys 480–1200 900–2190
Cu-alloys 150–350 300–660 For nonferrous alloys, solution annealing is seldom used as a separate,
Ti-alloys 480–815 900–1500 single process but in combination with a subsequent aging process. The
combination solution annealing + aging is called precipitation hardening.
Examples where stress relieving is used are: There are also some steels, PH (Precipitation Hardening) and maraging
1. after welding, steels, which utilise precipitation hardening to produce strength and
2. after castings, toughness.
3. after rough machining,
4. before final grinding or machining of steel parts later subjected to
low temperature surface hardening such as nitriding and
nitrocarburising,
5. after any deformation of parts in alloys subjected and sensitive to
stress corrosion.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 09

Table 3. Examples of temperatures for solution annealing and aging [1]

Alloy Solution treatment temperature Aging temperature Aging time

°C °F °C °F h
Aluminium
Al-Cu 515–535 910–995  160–190 320–375 10–30
Al-Cu-Mg 495–510 920–950  170–190 340–375 8–16
Al-Cu-Li 530–860 990–1000 170–190 250–375 12–24
Al-Mg-Si 520–560 970–1040 160–205 320–400 1–18
Al-Zn-Mg 465–515 870–960 120-155 250–315 3–24
Copper
Cu-Ni-Sn 700–860 1292–1580 350 662 1–6
Cu-Be 780–1000 1436–1832 300–480 572–896 1–3
Cu-Ni-Cr 900–950 1652–1742 760 1400 1–2
PH* steels
17.4 PH 1040 1904 480–620 896–1148 1–4
17.7 PH 955 1751 510–595 950–1103 1
*PH=Precipitation hardening

After solution annealing and rapid quenching, the solute is

supersaturated in the matrix. By bringing the alloy up to aging
temperature, which is low in comparison to solution temperature,
the supersaturated solute can precipitate to very small microscopic
pearlite
intermetallic oxides, carbides etc. For the A-B system in Figure 3, the
cooling
aging process will result in precipitation of the phase β. The alloy
Temperature

hardness is then increased by precipitation hardening. This is an

important hardening mechanism for aluminium, copper, nickel and
titanium alloys.

2.1.4. Isothermal annealing

Low-alloy (case hardening) steels with low carbon contents, < 0.3 wt-%
C, are widely used in the automotive industry for gears and other
transmission parts. Uniform machinability, is an important requirement.
To yield such good machinability it is common practice to conduct Time
isothermal annealing. The process is performed in two steps, normally
in continuous furnaces. The first step is austenitising at 930–940 °C Figure 5: After austenitising, the steel is cooled down to a temperature where a
(1706–1724 °F) followed by rapid cooling to 610–680 °C (1130–1256 °F). ferrite/pearlite microstructure is formed isothermally. After full transformation,
cooling to room temperature is performed.
The second step is holding for several hours at this temperature. This
treatment produces a ferritic/pearlitic microstructure with good chip
breaking properties for good machinability.

2.1.5. Soft annealing

Soft annealing is used for steels with a fairly high carbon content,
> 0.35 wt-% C. The carbon is contained in hard platelets of cementite
(iron carbide). This microstructure causes great problems in machining.
To produce a microstructure with improved machinability, the steel is
heated to a temperature in the range 700–775 °C (1292–1427 °F) or in
the range 820–880 °C (1508–1616 °F) for tool and high-speed steels.
Holding at this temperature for 2–6 hours is followed by slow controlled
cooling. The process transforms the hard abrasive cementite platelets
into round, almost spherical cementite, thus improving machinability.
 10 Neutral hardening and annealing

new
austenite grains
A3
Temperature

Temperature
A1
heating cooling

ferrite
original grains after
round ferrite grains
hard plates normalising
carbides
of carbide
Time
Time
Figure 7: The large crystal grains shown in the left part of the figure could be a
result of hot forging or rolling. Normalising means that a refined grain size is formed
principally as a result of austenite grain formation upon heating above A3 and ferrite/
Figure 6: In high carbon steels, the cementite may be in a lamella form (black in the
pearlite grain formation upon cooling below A1.
figure). This is unfavourable for machinability. By soft annealing, the lamellas are
transformed into round spheroidised form, which is easier to machine.

2.1.6. Normalising quenching rate is fast enough. Fast enough means that the cooling curve
After hot forging, hot rolling, casting, etc. of mild steel, the microstructure has to pass to the left of the ferrite, pearlite and bainite transformation
is non-uniform and contains large crystal grains. Such a microstructure ”noses” in the TTT (Temperature, Time, Transformation) diagram
gives poor strength and toughness. Machinability could also be impaired. schematically shown in Figure 8b.
The large crystal grains shown in the left part of Figure 7 could be a result
of hot forging or rolling. Normalising means that a refined grain size is A martensitic transformation occurs without long-range diffusion
formed principally as a result of austenite grain formation upon heating (movement) but by small displacements of the C- (carbon) and Fe- (iron)
above the A3 temperature and ferrite/pearlite grain formation upon atoms less than the interatomic spacing. (Martensitic transformations
cooling below the A1 temperature. also occur in the Ti, Ni and Cu-alloy nonferrous systems, but the practical
importance is negligible in comparison to the importance of hardening
Heating to a temperature in the austenitic region, 800–920 °C (1472– of steels.) The transformation is immediate and not dependent on
1616 °F), with 10–20 minutes’ soak produces new austenite grains from time. Transformation from austenite to martensite starts at a specific
the parent ferrite/pearlite microstructure. Upon cooling at a controlled temperature, Ms, and ends at the temperature Mf, which is lower than Ms,
rate, a new ferrite/pearlite microstructure, which is finer and more see Figure 8b.
uniform than the original, is produced. With a fast final cooling, high
mechanical strength can be obtained. Normalising therefore is often the Ms = Martensite transformation start
final annealing operation for products like tubes and strip. Normalising is
also applied before cold drawing of welded tubes as normalising yields Mf = Martensite transformation finish
an even microstructure with good cold drawing properties.
The Ms and Mf temperatures decrease with increased total concentration
of carbon and alloying elements in the steel. For medium-carbon alloy
2.2 Hardening and tempering processes steels, the following empirical formula can be used to estimate Ms [2]:

Neutral hardening is a heat treatment procedure for steels with the aim Ms=520–320×(wt-%C)–50×(wt-%Mn)–30×(wt-%Cr)–20×[wt-%(Ni+Mo)]–
of producing a martensitic microstructure. Neutral hardening is a final 5×[wt-%(Cu+Si)]
heat treatment and is mostly performed on ready-made parts. For some
low-alloy steels, hardening and tempering are already done in the steel For high-carbon and high-alloy contents, the Mf temperature is below
rolling mill. room temperature. Upon quenching, the austenite will therefore not
transform completely to martensite, but a certain amount of retained
Hardening involves the steps of heating up to a temperature above A3, austenite will remain after hardening. Figure 9 shows how the
where the steel is austenitic, followed by a fast quench. (After hardening concentration of carbon in the steel affects the amount of retained
there is normally a tempering process, see Figure 8a.) The austenite will austenite.
transform upon quenching to the hard microstructure martensite if the
 Neutral hardening and annealing 11

Austenitising
A3
A1 Ferrite

Heating Pearlite
Quenching
Temperature

Temperature
Ms Bainite
Tempering

Mf

Oil quench Air cooling

Time Time

Figure 8: a) Temperature-time cycle and b) its relation to the TTT diagram.

68
50 900
Volume percent retained austenite

65
40 800
Hard and brittle
700 60
30
Hardness Vickers

600

Hardness HRC
20

500 50
10

400 40
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6
300 30
Weight percent carbon
20
200 10
Figure 9: Retained austenite after hardening as a function of steel carbon 0
concentration [3].
100
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
Weight-%C

Figure 10: Hardness of hardened steels as a function of carbon content.

The hardness of martensite and of hardened steels increases with

increased carbon concentration, see Figure 10. The reason for the
hardness drop at carbon concentrations above approximately 0.8%C is
that the retained austenite concentration increases. Retained austenite
has a low hardness compared to martensite. (It is possible to transform
the retained austenite to martensite and thereby to increase hardness
by cooling to cryogenic temperature. This is described in other Linde
brochures about Sub-Zero Treatments.)
12 Neutral hardening and annealing
Temperature

Temperature

Temperature
MS MS MS

Time Time Time

a b c

Figure 11: Temperature sequences for a) direct hardening, b) martempering or isothermal hardening and c) austempering.

The hardenability of a steel describes its ability to transform to The as-hardened martensitic structure is brittle because of high hardness
martensite upon quenching and is related to the total concentration and high micro stresses. Therefore, hardening is generally followed by
of alloying elements in the steel. High-alloy content yields high a tempering heat treatment to improve ductility. Tempering involves
hardenability and vice versa. High hardenability means that the steel heating up to a temperature in the range 150–650 °C (300–1200 °F).
can transform to martensite even when quenched with modest cooling Upon heating, the internal micro stresses are lowered and the carbon
rates such as cooling in still air. With reference to Figure 8b, this means in the martensite is precipitated as transition carbides. Strength and
that the ferrite, pearlite and bainite “noses” are pushed to the right, toughness are adjusted by choosing different tempering temperatures.
letting the cooling curve pass to the left of the noses. Conversely, a Increased tempering temperature for low- and medium-alloy steels
low hardenability steel requires a high cooling rate in extreme cases by results in reduced hardness and increased ductility. High-alloy tool steels
forced water circulation. and high-speed steels develop secondary hardening due to precipitation
of fine dispersion of carbides. This is illustrated in Figure 12.
The hardening process is mostly performed as direct hardening as
illustrated in Figure 11a. This means that cooling is performed directly
after austenitising and that the cooling is uninterrupted and continues 80
until the parts have the same temperature as the cooling medium. The High-speed steel
cooling medium is mostly a mineral oil for atmosphere furnaces and gas
60
for vacuum furnaces.
Hardness [HRC]

In some cases, hardening is conducted as isothermal hardening (also 40

Carbon steel
called martempering) as illustrated in Figure 11b. Cooling is initially
interrupted at a temperature above the end cooling temperature. High 20
temperature quench oils may be used as isothermal quench baths. More
often, salt baths are used, because the bath temperature is too high for
most mineral oils. Isothermal hardening is performed on high-alloy tool 0
0 200 400 600 800
steels in order to reduce distortions and to avoid quench cracks upon
Tempering temperature [°C]
quenching.
Figure 12: Principal tempering curves for a low-alloy and a high-speed steel.
Austempering, Figure 11c, is a process normally described under
hardening although the process produces a bainitic microstructure.
Salt quench baths are mostly used for this. The holding time in the
austempering quench bath is long, typically of the order of several hours
for complete isothermal transformation of austenite to bainite.
Neutral hardening and annealing 13
14 Neutral hardening and annealing

3. Furnace and equipment.

Figure 13: Schematic view of a roller hearth furnace.

Annealing is done both in steel and nonferrous milling plants, usually in 3.2 For hardening
connection with cold deformation, such as rolling. In the manufacturing
industries, annealing furnaces have a wide range of sizes and designs Roller hearth furnaces are also used for hardening, for instance of
from a small box furnace in a tool room, to a big continuous isothermal bearing rings, which are transported by the rollers. At the end of the
annealing furnace in the automotive transmission workshop, and from an furnace there is a quenching bath usually containing agitated mineral oil.
advanced vacuum furnace in the aerospace industry to air-filled furnaces For small parts like bolts, nuts, etc., the conveyor furnace is commonly
for lower-demand industries. used, see Figure 14. The parts are transported through the furnace on
a movable conveyor. At the end of the conveyor, the parts fall down
The main difference between annealing and hardening furnaces is the into the quench bath. A second conveyor transports the quenched parts
design of the cooling section. The cooling section in annealing furnaces further for washing and tempering.
is designed to give a controlled cooling rate to result in the required
properties of annealed products. For hardening, a rapid quench is Other examples of continuous hardening furnaces are shaker hearth,
required after heating to austenitising temperature. Hardening furnaces rotary retort and pusher furnaces.
are therefore equipped with quenching equipment. A few examples of
furnaces used are described below. The integral sealed quench or multi-purpose furnace, Figure 15, is the
“work horse” for batch load hardening in the manufacturing industries.
The heating chamber is separated from the quench chamber by an
3.1 For annealing internal door. The parts are loaded in baskets, which are loaded into
the heating chamber. After austenitising is completed in the heating
The most common continuous annealing furnace is the roller hearth chamber, the intermediate door opens and the load is transferred down
furnace, which is used for continuous annealing of tubes, bars, strip, and into the oil quench bath on an elevator.
wire coils, see Figure 13.
Bottom loaded bell type furnace lines with integrated units for
The products run on rollers through the furnace. In order to minimise quenching are not so common but have advantages for hardening
disturbances from air entering the furnace, there is an option, especially long products. Box and pit furnaces are used in hardening, but are
for wire and strip coils, to have charging vestibules at the inlet side, which accompanied by separate quench baths, which means that the load has
are evacuated or purged with nitrogen before the coils are transferred to be transferred in air from the furnace to the quench.
into the heating zone of the furnaces. As illustrated in Figure 13, the
cooling section often has a longer length than the heating section.

Pusher furnaces are common for isothermal annealing, for instance

of forgings to improve machinability. These furnaces have a forced
convection cooling section between the heating and the isothermal soak
sections.

Wire annealing is often carried out in tubular strand furnaces. The wires
are fed through several parallel tubes, which are mounted through the
furnace. Strips are also continuously annealed in vertical or horizontal
furnace lines.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 15

Figure 14: Conveyor furnace for hardening: cross section and installation (Courtesy of Safed, Fours Electrique Delmont S.A.).

1 Basket (moves on chains), 2 Parts, 3 Fans for homogeneous atmosphere,

4 Heat treatment, 5 Oli bath (parts are quenched/cooled down)

3 3

1
4
2

Figure 15: Example of a sealed quench furnace line and charging equipment (left) and cross section of a sealed quench furnace showing the heat chamber and the integrated oil
quench bath (right) (Courtesy of Ipsen International GmbH).
16 Neutral hardening and annealing

3.3 Vacuum furnaces parts and is fairly common for annealing and hardening of aeronautic
parts. The furnace shown in Figure 16c has a “cold” quenching module
Vacuum furnaces are increasingly used for annealing and for hardening. separated from the heating chamber, which results in increased cooling
Earlier they were mainly used for high value parts such as tools, and capacity compared to a “hot” single-chamber furnace.
aeronautic parts made of super alloys, tool and high-speed steels. Today
they have come more and more into use for serial production in hardening Also vacuum hardening for mass production of engineering parts made
of low-alloy steels. However, single-chamber furnaces are still more of medium- or low-alloy steels is possible. The multi-chamber vacuum
common, see Figure 16. furnace line shown in Figure 17 is designed for vacuum carburising,
but a design on the same principle can be used also for a hardening
The heating cycle in a single-chamber furnace is performed under vacuum. line. Modern one-piece flow systems integrate heat treatment into the
After finalised heating, quenching is done with gas at high velocity and manufacturing work centre. The components are transported individually
pressure. This means that after the completed vacuum cycle, the chamber from each working step to the next working step following the “one-piece
is filled for a short time with gas up to an elevated pressure, typically flow”-philosophy. A continuous product-flow is generated between soft-
5 bar. The bottom loaded furnace shown in Figure 16d is used for heavy machining, heat treatment and hard-machining.

a b

c d

Figure 16: Single-chamber vacuum furnaces:

a) Cross section of a single-chamber furnace with integrated high pressure gas cooling, c) One-piece-flow system (Courtesy of ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH),
b) single-chamber furnace (Courtesy of Ipsen International GmbH), d) Vertical bottom loaded vacuum furnace (Courtesy of Ipsen International GmbH).
 Neutral hardening and annealing 17

Figure 17: A continuous vacuum furnace hardening line (Courtesy of Ipsen

International GmbH).

3.4 Atmosphere equipment

3.4.1 High-speed gas injection for improved gas homogeneity

It is essential that the furnace atmosphere is evenly mixed and circulated
so that all part surfaces will experience the same effect from the
atmosphere with respect to final carbon content and freedom from
oxides. CARBOJET® high-speed gas injection is a patented technology
from Linde Gas which allows for better gas convection in heat treatment
furnaces without ventilators. By injecting small amounts of nitrogen at
high velocities into one or several sections of the furnace, CARBOJET
creates a movement in the furnace atmosphere to ensure homogeneous
gas and temperature distribution. CARBOJET can be installed in both Figure 18: High-pressure nitrogen inlet for the CARBOJET nozzle.
continuous and batch furnaces.

The system consists of one or several CARBOJET lances with piping and
flow train. The number of lances is adapted to the furnace size and the
existing gas consumption. The lances can be controlled manually or
through a CARBOFLEX® control unit. The specially designed lances are
made of heat-resistant material to ensure a long lifetime. In order to
provide tailor-made solutions, Linde Gas adapts its CARBOJET systems to
individual customer needs.

This solution has proven to be very successful in continuous annealing

furnaces [4] but also in pit furnaces where significant savings on
maintenance costs have been achieved, and a more homogeneous
product quality and reduced soot formation have been established [5].
The CFD calculations shown in Figure 19 are made for a case of the
installation of two CARBOJET lances in a 6-m-deep pit furnace. It
demonstrates how the CARBOJET is able to steer the atmosphere
circulation with uniform velocity from the top of the pit furnace to the
bottom of the furnace. With the fan, very uneven flow velocities are
achieved: they are high towards the top but low at the bottom. Uneven
flow means uneven results.
18 Neutral hardening and annealing

Figure 19: Flow patterns of CARBOJET in operation.

The lances are practically maintenance-free; furnaces where ventilators 3.4.2 High-speed gas injection for improved cooling
have been replaced by the CARBOJET high-speed injection system A further development of the patented CARBOJET high-speed gas
can therefore be operated for longer without shutdowns. Downtime injection technique is CARBOJET cooling that typically is installed through
caused by broken ventilators and disturbances of vibrating ventilators the furnace roof (other installations possible) in the cooling section of
is completely eliminated. This leads to the additional advantage that a continuous annealing furnace in order to improve heat transfer. It is a
the heating elements, retorts and brick lining will suffer less frequent system based on the installation of gas injection lances placed in several
damage. sections of the furnace. A control system regulates the gas flow to the
lances with the help of the required gas flow train and piping.
In summary, the advantages of the high-speed gas injector are:
• homogenised product quality The technique is suitable to improve situations like:
• no ventilators are needed, maintenance-free technology • Existing cooling insufficient
• increased utilisation of gases and reduced soot formation in heat • Need to increase throughput due to increased demand
treatment furnaces. The high-speed injection of gases also optimises • Demand to shut down one furnace by increasing the output of the
the functionality of analysing equipment due to better gas mixing others to reduce overall costs
• increased carbon transfer on material surfaces due to forced • Avoid/prolong the need to invest in a new furnace
convection of the atmosphere
 Neutral hardening and annealing 19

Advantages obtained with the CARBOJET cooling technique include:

• Very little maintenance needed since there are no moving parts and
the nozzles do not really wear
• High-speed nitrogen is the main gas component with no additional
nitrogen consumption
• Increased throughput (faster process) due to increased heat transfer
• Higher flexibility
• Shorter cooling zones possible

3.4.3 Methanol injectors and pumps

The theoretical principles for using cracked methanol as a source for
creating the atmosphere are described in the next section. The specially
designed methanol injectors seen in Figure 20 are integrated parts of
the CARBOTHAN® system.

The methanol pump is another integrated part of the CARBOTHAN

system. To ensure steady supply, a double pump system is
recommended. The gear pump has proven to be an adequate type of
pump. It has to fulfil safety regulations.

3.4.4 Sample gas handling

It is most important that the sample gas is drawn from the furnace in a
way that ensures that a representative furnace atmosphere sample is
analysed. Figure 21 shows an example of a sample gas lance design that
meets this requirement. It has an outer protective tube and a ceramic
inner sample gas tube. The design is intended to avoid thermal stresses
due to different thermal elongations of the metallic and ceramic tubes.
There is a pin at the end of the lance that in case of a crack in the
ceramic tube will obstruct it from falling into the furnace.

Figure 21: Sample gas lance.

Figure 20: Examples of methanol injectors.

20 Neutral hardening and annealing

4. Atmosphere generation, gas supply.

The furnace atmosphere is supplied to a furnace in two alternative In order to make a good atmosphere, it is usually necessary to combine
basic ways. The first, here referred to as in-situ generation or synthetic at least two different gases. For instance, N₂/H₂ atmospheres are
atmospheres, is by supplying gases, such as nitrogen, hydrogen, and produced by feeding N₂ and H₂ through separate flow meters to the
argon, directly to the furnace where they are mixed to create the furnace. N₂/CO/H₂ atmospheres are produced from methanol, which
correct composition. The second, called external generation, is to react dissociates to CO and H₂ in the furnace and is diluted with nitrogen to
components (typically a fuel and air) in an external generator to produce the correct composition. The most common combinations are shown in
the furnace atmosphere. These two methods can be combined. In-situ Table 4, where the Linde designations for the different systems are also
methods can create widely varying atmosphere compositions and shown. From the table it is clear that a certain atmosphere composition
the flow can also be adapted to needs at any time, whereas separate can be obtained in different ways. For instance, an N₂/H₂ atmosphere
external gas generators produce a fixed atmosphere composition and the can be produced not only from combining the pure gases (N₂ and H₂) but
output flow rate can be varied only within restricted limits. also from cracked ammonia or by nitrogen dilution of cracked ammonia.
N₂/CO/H₂ atmospheres can be produced from N₂ + methanol, from
Specific advantages related to the use of in-situ atmospheres are: endogas, from a combination of N₂ + endogas and so on.
• Flow rate can be adapted and minimised to the true need of the
furnace and the process
• Gas mixture can be adapted to any ratio according to the need of the
alloy and the process
• Short start-up and conditioning
• Maintenance and supervision are minimised
• Gas production reliability is improved compared to the use of
generators
• Quality and productivity can be improved by using the flexibility of
mixing and flow rate control
• Increased safety

Table 4. Synthetic atmospheres based on composition

Composition Supply alternative Linde designation

100% nitrogen Gaseous supply in cylinders or bundles Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen supply
Cryogenic on-site supply CRYOSS®
PSA on-site supply ADSOSS®
Membrane on-site supply MEMOSS®
100% hydrogen Gaseous supply in cylinders or tube trailer Hydrogen
On-site supply
Liquid hydrogen supply
100% argon Gaseous supply in cylinders or bundles Argon
Liquid argon supply
100% helium Gaseous supply in cylinders Helium
Nitrogen/hydrogen mixture N₂ + H₂ HYDROFLEX®
N₂ + cracked ammonia HYDROFLEX
Argon/hydrogen mixture Ar + H₂ HYDROFLEX
Nitrogen/hydrocarbon mixture N₂ + natural gas (+ H₂) CARBOFLEX
N₂ + propane (+ H₂) CARBOFLEX
Nitrogen/carbon monoxide/hydrogen mixture N₂ + methanol CARBOFLEX
N₂ + endogas CARBOFLEX

An atmosphere supply system consists of three major parts: media storage, mixing and intake to the furnace.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 21

4.1 Nitrogen supply a

There are five major supply forms for nitrogen (see Figure 22):

Gaseous nitrogen in cylinders or bundles

For cost reasons, this option is relevant only for limited gas consumption.

Liquid nitrogen
The liquid nitrogen is supplied by truck to a vacuum-insulated container
(see Figure 22a) at the customer site. This is the most common supply
method that is cost-efficient for a flow from 10 up to about 200m³/h.
Nitrogen supplied in the liquid form has a high purity, with typical
contamination levels of O₂ + H₂O at 5 ppm. The liquid nitrogen supply
form has the advantage that the amount of nitrogen supplied to the
furnaces can be varied within wide limits. The customer takes only the
amount needed at any time.

Nitrogen produced on-site with cryogenic technology

Cryogenic on-site production, Figure 22b, yields high purity, typically
5 ppm oxygen and moisture content. It is relevant for flow rates from
250 to 2000 m³/h.

Nitrogen from adsorption (PSA) units installed on-site

Nitrogen produced on-site using the PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption)
technique, Figure 22c, has a purity of 99 to 99.99%. Flow rates from b

10 up to 2000 m³/h can be accommodated. ECOVAR® is a family of PSA

on-site production units supplied by Linde Gas.

Nitrogen produced on-site with membrane technology

Nitrogen produced at the customer site using the membrane technique
has a purity of 90–99%, or differently expressed contains up to 1 vol%
oxygen. Flow rates from 5 up to 1000 m³/h can be accommodated. The
cost for membrane nitrogen is lowered if a certain impurity level of
oxygen can be accepted.

The on-site production methods are combined with a liquid nitrogen tank
supply or a gas cylinder supply. This extra supply is for back-up purposes
and to meet instant needs of higher flow rates than is possible with the
OSS unit. c

Figure 22: Nitrogen supply methods. a) Storage tank and vaporiser for liquid nitrogen,
b) Cryogenic nitrogen production with CRYOSS, c) PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption);
ADSOSS.
22 Neutral hardening and annealing

a b

Figure 23: Different supply forms for hydrogen. a) Cylinder bundle with hydrogen, b) Hydrogen tube trailer, c) Liquid hydrogen truck with production facility in the background.

4.2 Argon supply

Argon is supplied either as gas in cylinders or as liquid in a tank like

the nitrogen tank shown in Figure 22. Purities are the same as for the
corresponding nitrogen supply methods, thus 5 ppm of O₂ + H₂O.

4.3 Hydrogen supply

Hydrogen is alternatively supplied by:

a) Gaseous delivery from cylinders, cylinder bundles or a tube trailer
b) On-site production by electrolysis of water, steam reformation of
natural gas, ammonia dissociation or methanol dissociation
c) Liquid hydrogen supply

Examples of different supply methods for hydrogen are shown in

Figure 23.

Figure 24: Methanol tank installation. The liquid nitrogen tank is seen in the
background.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 23

4.4 Methanol supply

Methanol is stored in tanks of varying size depending on the rate of a. CARBOTHAN lance CTL1
consumption. Small consumers fill their tanks from barrels, while large
consumers fill them from road tankers. An example of a methanol tank
installation is shown in Figure 24. Nitrogen inerting of the methanol
storage is common both to ensure safety and to eliminate the risk of
humidity entering the methanol.

The methanol storage installation should comply with local safety

regulations. It could for instance mean that the tank has to be
surrounded by a barrier or wall to eliminate the risk of spreading
methanol spills. Due to the high level of toxic risk, a locked entrance to
b. CARBOTHAN lance CTL4
the methanol storage location is also advisable.

There are three different means of passing the methanol from the
storage tank to the furnace. The first is by applying pressure to the
nitrogen by pressurising the methanol storage tank with nitrogen.
This method is straightforward but has the drawback that nitrogen
may dissolve in the methanol, causing problems with gas bubbles and
unsteady flow. The second method is by positioning the methanol Figure 25: Methanol injection into the fan area of a furnace
container at such a high level that gravity will feed the methanol to
the furnace. In practice, this method is limited to use cases with small
methanol containers. The third and preferred method is by using a pump
to feed the methanol.
a. Methanol vaporiser mounted
at the rear of a low height
conveyor furnace
4.6 In-situ methanol cracking

A carbon monoxide/hydrogen (CO/H₂) atmosphere can be produced by

in-situ cracking of methanol according to the reaction:

CH₃OH → CO + 2 H₂

By mixing cracked methanol with nitrogen, it is possible to produce

a wide range of N₂/CO/H₂ compositions, thus also those obtained by b. Methanol vaporiser
endo-, exo- or monogas generators. mounted on the bottom of a
bell furnace
The injection of methanol has to be carried out properly in order to
obtain the correct cracking products. If cracking occurs at too low a
temperature, there will be a risk of soot formation. Methanol should be Figure 26: Examples of methanol vaporiser installations in a) a conveyor and
introduced into the furnace at a place where the temperature exceeds b) a bell furnace.

800 °C (1470 °F). At lower temperatures, other cracking reactions

may produce CH₄, CO₂, H₂O and soot. The cracking of methanol can be
improved by disintegrating the liquid methanol stream into droplets. This
can be accomplished by introducing the methanol into the ventilator
area of the furnace, as shown in Figure 25. Another way is to use a
special atomising spray nozzle.

When introducing methanol into thick-walled furnaces, it is important

that the time for the liquid methanol to pass the temperature interval of as shown in Figure 26. A methanol vaporiser is a good solution in all
250–800 °C (482–1470 °F) is as short as possible. Below 250°C (482° F), cases where the methanol cracking occurs within a limited volume such
the methanol will not readily crack but will vaporise. Furnace regions at as in small furnace rooms.
that temperature can in some cases successfully be used for vaporising
methanol. In certain furnaces such as low height conveyor furnaces and Injectors and gas inlets should be located away from exhaust gas outlets,
bell furnaces, it is advantageous to have a separate methanol vaporiser sample gas outlets as well as away from any oxygen probe.
24 Neutral hardening and annealing

Cooling and
drying
Appr. 22 volume
Appr. 7 volume
units of exogas
units of air Combustion
1 volume unit of chamber
natural gas
a

4.9 volume units 2 volume units of

of endogas cracked ammonia

Cooling Cooling

Retort with
Ni catalyst

2.4 volume
units of air 1 volume unit
1 volume unit of ammonia
of natural gas
b c

Figure 27: Schematic principles of a) exo- and b) endogas generators and c) an

ammonia cracker/dissociator.

4.7 Nitrogen and external atmosphere generators reaction between the hydrocarbon and the oxygen in the air. The air/
hydrocarbon ratio is chosen so that the hydrocarbon mainly reacts to
By causing air to react with a hydrocarbon (propane or natural gas), it is form CO and H₂ according to the principal reactions:
possible to produce the generator atmospheres commonly known as RX,
DX and HNX atmospheres, or endogas, exogas and monogas respectively. C₃H₈ + 7.2 Air = 3CO + 4 H₂+ 5.7 N₂ with propane as the hydrocarbon
Cracked ammonia (DA) is also made in a type of gas generator. Figure 27
shows the principle design of these generators. Each generator can or
vary the gas composition, but only within a range that is dictated by the
combustion process. Thus, the output flow rate can be varied only within CH₄ + 2.4 Air= CO + 2 H₂+ 1.9 N₂ with methane as the hydrocarbon.
certain limits, in turn limiting the types of materials that can be heat
treated within that atmosphere. Endogas is a reducing atmosphere with a controllable carbon
concentration.
Typical generator atmosphere compositions are given in Table 5. The
compositions given are those at the outlet of the external gas generators. The patented CARBOCAT® equipment that is available from Linde in
These atmosphere compositions will change when the gas enters the certain parts of the European market is an in-situ generator in which
hot furnace as a result of the reaction with air and oil vapours that are endogas is produced directly inside the furnace chamber. Major benefits
present. The composition will also change because a new chemical include the elimination of a cooling device for the gas, energy savings,
equilibrium composition will be established determined by the furnace floor space reduction and elimination of piping between generator and
temperature itself. This is especially the case for dried exogas, which has furnace. Several CARBOCAT generators can be installed in the same
a non-equilibrium composition after the drying step. When the exogas is furnace. It is most economical when compared to external generators
brought to the high temperature in the furnace, water will be produced when there is a need for one or two CARBOCATs per furnace.
through the reaction
For exogas production, a higher air/hydrocarbon ratio is used, which
CO₂+H₂ → H₂O+CO results not only in CO and H₂ but also in H₂O and CO₂ production. The
reaction between air and hydrocarbon is exothermic and does not
The resulting atmosphere inside the furnace will thus have a require a catalyst. Air/natural gas ratios vary typically from 7 to 9.
considerably higher water content than the exogas coming out of the The resulting exogas is dried to lower the water vapour concentration.
generator. Exogas is the cheapest generator gas but the least reducing atmosphere
with the lowest carbon activity of all generator atmospheres.
Endogas is produced in a reaction between air and a hydrocarbon, Consequently, it can be used for heat treatment of copper and of steels
commonly natural gas and sometimes propane. These gases are mixed for which no carbon control is required.
and fed via a blower into a retort heated to approximately 1000 °C
(1830 °F). The retort is filled with a nickel catalyst to enable a complete
 Neutral hardening and annealing 25

Table 5. Typical atmosphere compositions

Method Vol% of the different atmosphere constituents

N₂ H₂ CO CO₂ H₂O CH₄
Exogas (from natural gas, dry) Balance 7 6 7.5 0.5 0.25
Endogas (from natural gas) Balance 40 20 0.4 0.1 0.15
HNX (Monogas) Balance 7 5 0.1 0.1 0.1
DA (dissociated ammonia) 25 75

Monogas is a high-purity atmosphere with low concentrations of water

vapour and carbon dioxide. It is obtained by cleaning exogas thoroughly
with respect to these oxidising gases. The equipment needed for this is
costly and high-maintenance. The resulting atmosphere composition is
typically 2–20 vol% CO + H₂, the rest being nitrogen. It is reducing and
has a controllable carbon concentration.

An ammonia cracker consists of a heated retort, in which ammonia

dissociates to a 25 vol% nitrogen/75 vol% hydrogen gas mixture by the
reaction

2 NH₃ = N₂+ 3 H₂

It is important to regularly maintain the ammonia cracker to assure

proper dissociation of the ammonia. Otherwise, there is the risk that
un-cracked ammonia leaves the cracker and causes unwanted nitriding
of parts in the furnace.
26 Neutral hardening and annealing

5. Atmosphere control.

2
PCO PCO · PH2 PCO
Gas Gas/surface Metal Carbon activity or or
PCO2 PH O PO2
2
N2
O2
CH4 H PCO2 PH2O
Oxygen activity or or PO2
PCO PH2
CO H2O O
NH3 N PNH3
CO2 or PN
Nitrogen activity 3/2 2
C PH2

C 3 H8 H2
Hydrogen activity P
H2

Figure 28: a.) Schematic illustration of atmosphere/metal interaction and b) Expressions for oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen activities in the atmosphere.

In a neutral atmosphere, there are no net reactions between atmosphere the furnace atmosphere as the gas molecules oxygen (O₂), hydrogen (H₂)
and metal. The same atmosphere may be neutral towards one alloy but and nitrogen (N₂) but preferentially as elements in multi-atom gaseous
active towards another alloy. There are a number of possible reactions molecules such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water
between the gas species in the furnace atmosphere and the metal vapour (H₂O). In industrial practice, it is often easier and more reliable to
surface. It is possible to reduce the problem of atmosphere control to the analyse and control the concentrations of the multi-atom species CO, CO₂
control of the elements oxygen and carbon present in the atmosphere. and H₂O instead of directly analysing the O₂ and C concentrations.
As indicated in Figure 28, the control is based on the atmosphere
composition with respect to O₂, CO, CO₂, H₂O and H₂. The atmosphere The furnace atmosphere can principally be divided into a neutral
carbon concentration can, as an example, be controlled by analysing gas and an active gas. The neutral gas generally is nitrogen. The
the atmosphere´s CO and CO₂ concentrations. The furnace atmosphere active gas is usually a blend of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H₂)
also serves as the thermal transfer medium for heating and cooling, and hydrocarbon (CnHm). The active gas can be reducing, oxidising,
especially in vacuum hardening processes. carburising or decarburising with respect to the heat-treated alloy. As
seen in Table 6, the reducing effect of hydrogen (H₂) is balanced by the
oxidising effect of water vapour (H₂O). The reducing and carburising
5.1 Atmosphere constituents and their functions effect of carbon monoxide (CO) balances the oxidising and decarburising
effect of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Keeping a constant balance between
To avoid the negative effects of oxidation, carburising, decarburising or oxidising and reducing or carburising and decarburising species is the
nitriding, the atmosphere must be neutral with respect to the annealed basic principle utilised for atmosphere control.
or hardened alloy. Neutrality implies that no net reactions occur between
the metal/alloy and the atmosphere elements oxygen (O) and carbon (C).
Reactions with nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H) must be considered in
certain cases. Figure 28 shows that these four elements may be present in

Table 6. Atmosphere constituents and their action

Active gases Neutral or inert gases

Reducing Oxidising Carburising Decarburising
H₂ H₂O CO H₂O N₂
CO CO₂ C n Hm CO₂ Ar
O₂ O₂ He
 Neutral hardening and annealing 27

Truly inert atmospheres are made up only of the noble gases argon 5.2 Oxidation control
and helium. Nitrogen can be regarded as inert to most used alloys such
as steels and copper alloys. However, it is not inert in contact with The oxidation of a pure metal, Me, is expressed by the chemical
metals that have a high affinity to nitrogen. Such alloys will be nitrided, equilibrium reaction
resulting in an increased nitrogen concentration in a surface layer of the
alloy. Stainless steels and titanium are the most important examples of Me + 1/2 O₂ → MeO (A)
such alloys. Argon or possibly helium must be used in those cases.
with the equilibrium constant
The neutral or inert part of the atmosphere should:
• purge oxygen or other disturbing gases from the furnace K A= 1/PO₂1/2
• eliminate air ingress to the furnace by maintaining a positive pressure (Assuming activities of metal and metal oxide can be approximated to
inside the furnace unity).
• carry and bring the active gas into contact with the metal surfaces
• dilute the atmosphere concentrations of flammable constituents to The oxygen partial pressure value, PO₂, above which oxidation occurs, and
assure safety below which the metal stays non-oxidised, is well known for each metal.
For each metal oxide, that pressure is a function of temperature and
The active gas should: the explicit value is found in chemistry handbooks, tables or databases.
• enable the controllability of the atmosphere Oxygen equilibrium partial pressures are often shown in a diagram
• maintain reducing conditions with respect to the metal oxides that referred to as the Ellingham or Richardson diagram. A faster, more precise
may form during heat treatment and modern way is to calculate the oxygen equilibrium pressure with
• maintain a neutral carbon activity (for steels) to avoid decarburising the help of modern databases and computer programs. As an example,
or carburising Figure 29 displays the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure as a function of
• react with vapours, for instance from vaporised lubricants, and temperature for the metal oxides of copper, iron and chromium calculated
eliminate their detrimental effect on the annealing result using the Thermocalc program [6].

For safety and economic reasons, the amount of active gas is generally Figure 29 shows that the three metals, copper, iron and chromium are
kept to the minimum amount required. profoundly different as regards their sensitivity to forming oxides. Copper
is a fairly noble metal that is resistant to oxidation, whereas chromium
Reducing atmospheres not only prevent the formation of surface oxides oxidises at extremely low oxygen partial pressures. The demands on the
during heat treatment but can also reduce and eliminate residual surface atmosphere with respect to reducing power are accordingly increased in
oxides which were present before heat treatment or formed during the the order: copper → steel → stainless steel. Consequently, the atmosphere
heating process. A bright surface is not necessarily proof of neutrality oxygen partial pressure must be adjusted in relation to the heat-treated
with respect, for instance, to carbon. Under a bright surface there could metal to yield a bright surface.
be a decarburised layer.

In addition to the chemical action, the atmosphere also influences heat

Cu/Cu2O Fe/FeO Cr/Cr2O3
transfer during heating and especially during cooling. The atmosphere
1.0E-06
composition, type of gas, pressure and the flow velocity of the gas will
1.0E-09
influence the heat transfer rate.
Oxygen partial pressure [atm]

1.0E-12
1.0E-15
The reasoning in the following paragraphs on the atmosphere control
of oxygen potential, carbon and nitrogen activities is valid only in 1.0E-18

thermochemical equilibrium. This means that all reactions in the gas, 1.0E-21
between gas and metal, and in the metal are fast enough to reach 1.0E-24
chemical equilibrium. The assumption of chemical equilibrium between 1.0E-27
gas and metal is approximately valid in practice for heat treatment at a 1.0E-30
high temperature, say above 800 °C (1472 °F), for a long enough time at 1.0E-33
heat treatment temperature, of the order of at least 10 minutes, and in 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200
N₂/CO/H₂ atmospheres. Temperature °C

For N₂/CnHm (CnHm being a hydrocarbon such as methane, CH₄, or Figure 29: Relation between oxygen partial pressure (atm) and temperature for
propane, C₃H₈) atmospheres, the equilibrium assumption is no longer metal/metal oxide equilibrium for copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr) [6].

valid. Because of the slow reaction rate, atmosphere control must then
be based upon empirical results and kinetics.
28 Neutral hardening and annealing

Fe/FeO 18-8 steel/Cr2O3 Cr/Cr2O3

Cu/Cu2O Sn/SnO Zn/ZnO
1.0E-16 1.0E-10

1.0E-20

Oxygen partial pressure [atm]

Oxygen partial pressure [atm]

1.0E-20
1.0E-30

1.0E-24 1.0E-40

1.0E-50
1.0E-28
1.0E-60

1.0E-70
1.0E-32
1.0E-80

1.0E-36 1.0E-90
600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 0 200 400 600 800 1000
Temperature [°C] Temperature [°C]

Figure 30: The equilibrium oxygen partial pressure for oxide formation over a Figure 31: The equilibrium oxygen partial pressure for oxide formation over copper, tin
standard 18/8 stainless steel. Oxidation of pure iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr) shown and zinc. (The curves for Sn and Zn are calculated up to the melting temperature) [6].
for reference [6].

The partial pressures of oxygen needed to oxidise these metals are reducing atmospheres with high hydrogen concentrations in the range
extremely low, ranging from approximately 10–6 atm for copper 25–100 vol% must be therefore used.
to 10–30atm for chromium at typical annealing and hardening
temperatures. (Expressed as volume concentrations, these numbers It is normally required to add a reducing gas, for example hydrogen, to
correspond to 1 ppm and 10–24 ppm of oxygen.) These very low values lower the oxygen concentration to the required level. Oxygen enters the
are unrealistic, in the sense that there are no free oxygen molecules furnace atmosphere to a certain extent as an impurity in the supplied
to be measured at a partial pressure of the order of 10–30 atm. (The nitrogen, but mainly from external sources such as oxygen leaks into
oxygen content of the heat treatment atmosphere, even using cryogenic- the furnace through doors and openings, and oxygen brought into the
purity nitrogen as the source, may exceed the acceptable level of oxygen furnace by the parts (e.g. oxide layers, air inclusions). By reaction with a
to avoid oxidising the surface.) Although there are no free oxygen reducing gas, the oxygen concentration is lowered. Examples of reducing
molecules present, there are substantial and measurable amounts of reactions are:
oxygen bonded in the molecules CO, CO₂ and H₂O. By measuring and
balancing the atmosphere ratios of CO₂ /CO or H₂O/H₂, it is therefore 1/2 O₂ + H₂ → H₂O (B)
possible to control the atmosphere oxygen level.
with KB = PH₂O/ (PH₂· √PO₂) and
The atmosphere requirements for avoiding oxidation of commercial
stainless steels, with oxidation of iron and pure chromium as references, 1/2 O₂ + CO → CO₂ (C)
are illustrated in Figure 30. The equilibrium oxygen partial pressure over
iron oxide, which determines the oxidation of steels, is high compared with KC = PCO₂/(PCO PO₂1/2)
to the equilibrium oxygen pressure for chromium oxide formation, which
determines the oxidation of stainless steels. From the figure, it is clear K is the chemical equilibrium constant and P denotes the partial
that the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure value over the oxide is pressure, which at atmospheric pressure is equal to the quantity
about the same for a common standard stainless steel as it is for pure vol%/100. From equilibrium A, B and C it follows that the atmosphere
chromium. Avoiding the formation of chromium oxide will require oxygen oxygen control can alternatively be realised by using:
partial pressure that is several orders of magnitude lower than avoiding
the formation of iron oxide. Therefore, hydrogen atmospheres or vacuum • Direct measurement of the oxygen pressure
processes will be required. • Analysis of CO and CO₂
• Analysis of H₂ and H₂0
The oxidation diagram in Figure 31 shows the oxidation of the solid
metals Cu (copper), Sn (tin) and Zn (zinc). The diagram illustrates
that Sn and especially Zn oxidise much more easily than copper.
For bright annealing of alloys such as brasses and bronzes, strongly
 Neutral hardening and annealing 29

1050 °C 950 °C 750 °C

–30

–40
Dew point [°C]

–50

–60

–70

–80

–90
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Hydrogen [vol%]

Figure 32: Theoretically calculated dew point as a function of hydrogen concentration

for annealing of stainless steel without formation of chromium oxide.

These gas reactions have temperature-dependent equilibrium constants. rate by minimising the amount of free oxygen. Titanium also oxidises
The equilibrium data given in Appendix 1 can be used in several ways extremely easily and a very low oxygen partial pressure is required to
for a practical application. As an example, let us calculate the oxygen avoid oxidation. Vacuum is a preferred alternative for this purpose.
equilibrium pressure required for bright annealing of a stainless steel
at 1050 °C (1922 °F) and the required corresponding dew point in a Figures 30–31 show that the oxygen equilibrium partial pressure over
hydrogen atmosphere: metal oxides decreases with decreasing temperature. From a chemical
equilibrium point of view, the strongest purity requirements on the
a. From Appendix 1, we calculate the required oxygen partial pressure atmosphere are therefore set during heating and cooling. Figure 33 is
based for simplicity’s sake only on the oxidation of pure chromium, an illustration of this fact. In this figure, the curves for SiO₂, Cr₂O₃, etc.
are the theoretically calculated equilibrium curves for the formation of
2 Cr + 3/2 O₂ = Cr₂O₃. different oxides. The atmosphere oxidises to the right and reduces to
the left of each curve. The curve A-B-C-D-E shows the registration of the
At 1050 °C (1922 °F) we get PO₂ = 1.2 ·10–21 atm atmosphere dew point during a bell furnace annealing cycle. At point A,
the heating cycle is started. The atmosphere consists of 100% hydrogen.
b. Putting this oxygen partial pressure into the expression for the The atmosphere dew point is lowered upon heating from point A to point
equilibrium constant for the reaction, 1/2 O₂ + H₂ = H₂O, (see B. From point B to point C there is a slight increase in the dew point. This
Appendix 1), we can calculate the ratio between water vapour and is mainly related to lubricant vaporising. Further heating from C to D is
hydrogen concentrations. We get log PH₂O/PH₂ = –3.59. PH₂O can then accompanied by a continued dew point reduction. From D to annealing
be calculated for different PH₂ values. The water vapour concentration temperature, E, there is a slight increase in the dew point as the result
can be expressed as the dew point with the formula in Appendix 3. A of oxide reduction with hydrogen with concurrent water formation. From
presentation of such a calculation is shown in Figure 32. the figure it is clear that the atmosphere oxidises upon heating with
respect to Mn, Cr and Si oxides but not with respect to Fe oxides, up to
Elements like Mn, Si and Cr have a higher affinity to oxygen than pure a temperature of about 700 °C (1292 °F). At annealing temperature, the
iron. When present as alloying elements, these elements therefore may atmosphere becomes reducing with respect to Mn and Cr but not with
form oxides by so-called selective oxidation. This does not result in a respect to Si-oxide. For this specific alloy, the dew point should be below
complete oxide layer but in the formation of internal oxides along grain approximately –70 °C (–94 °F) in order to also be reducing with respect
boundaries and/or in internal oxide globules within the crystal grains. to Si at annealing temperature. For the best result in brightness, it is
Brass and bronzes containing the oxidation-prone alloying elements important that the dew point provides reducing conditions upon heating
Zn and Sn require highly reducing atmospheres according to Figure 31. at the lowest temperature possible. To avoid oxidation upon cooling, it is
Aluminium oxidises at such an extremely low oxygen partial pressure likewise important that the atmosphere becomes oxidising at the lowest
that such low oxygen pressures are impossible to realise in practice. possible temperature and that cooling is fast.
The use of atmosphere for protecting aluminium from oxidation is not
dependent on chemical equilibrium but on slowing down the oxidation
 30 Neutral hardening and annealing

1000 that contain elements like Si, Mn, and Ti, which easily form oxides.
SiO 2 Copper, on the other hand, tolerates a fairly high impurity concentration
Cr 2O 3 MnO
of oxygen if balanced by hydrogen addition.
900
E
Table 7. Maximum oxygen concentration permitted in the nitrogen
800
supplied for heat treatment when mixed with two different
hydrogen concentrations, 1 and 10 vol% respectively, to avoid the
700 formation of copper and chromium oxide at 850 °C (1562 °F).
Furnace temperature [°C]

D Mn 2O 3 Wustite
600 Hydrogen concentration
Oxide 1% H₂ 10% H₂
Cu₂O ~0.3% O₂ ~6% O₂
500
Cr₂O₃ 0.16 ppm O₂ 1.6 ppm O₂
FeO
400
C This has a consequence as regards the suitable sources of nitrogen
Fe2O 3 supply. Impure and low-cost membrane nitrogen can be used in cases
300 Fe3O 4 where metals are not easily oxidised, assuming that there is enough
reducing gas such as hydrogen or carbon monoxide present. High-purity
Gas
200
B nitrogen must be used when heat treating stainless steels and other
alloys that are easily oxidised.
100
A Theoretical equilibrium calculations such as those presented give
conservative limits for maximum oxygen levels with regard to oxidation.
0
–100 –80 –60 –40 –20 0 20 40 60 80 100
In practice, somewhat higher levels may be accepted because the rate of
Dew point [°C]
oxidation is limited both in gas/surface reactions and diffusion.

Figure 33: The dew point variation during a batch annealing cycle of strip coils related Kinetics is the term that describes the rate of chemical reactions.
to the theoretical oxidation borderlines for treated steel (see text for explanation of At a low temperature, the oxidation rate is low and even negligible
letters A, B, C, D and E) [7].
below a certain temperature. It means that although oxidation is
predicted from an equilibrium point of view, it will not occur below this
A similar reasoning can be applied to a continuous furnace, where for critical temperature because the reaction rate is too slow. This critical
certain points in the heating and cooling sections, corresponding to temperature is of the order 150°C (302°F) for steels and about 50°C
certain temperatures, the atmosphere may change from reducing to (122°F) for copper alloys. Although the oxygen impurity concentration
oxidising because of the temperature effect. in nitrogen is oxidising from a theoretical point of view it is of orders of
magnitude lower than the oxygen concentration in air. A very simple
An example of how equilibrium calculation can be applied is to calculate estimate made from basic oxidation kinetics indicates that the oxide
what percentage of oxygen can be tolerated in the stream of nitrogen scale growth rate, on a metal in a nitrogen atmosphere with an oxygen
supplied to a furnace, without leading to oxidation of the metal, when concentration of 100 ppm, is about 1% of the oxide growth rate in air.
the oxygen reacts with different hydrogen concentrations. The result of If an oxide scale with a thickness of 0.1 mm was formed in air changing
such a theoretical calculation using the Thermo-Calc software is shown by atmosphere from air to nitrogen, the thickness would be reduced to
in Figure 34. 0.001 mm or just 1 μm.

Question: What maximum oxygen concentration in the inlet nitrogen gas

stream can be tolerated at 850°C (1562°F) without oxidising copper and
chromium for a hydrogen concentration of 1 and 10 vol% respectively?

Answer: Draw vertical lines from the points 1 and 10 vol% H₂ on the
x-axis. Draw horizontal lines from the intersections of these (two)
lines with the curves for Cu2O and Cr₂O₃ respectively. Read the
concentration on the intersection of these four horizontal lines with the
O₂ concentration on the y-axis. The result is shown in Table 7.

The table shows that the oxygen concentration has to be extremely low
to avoid Cr₂O₃ formation. Even very small amounts of oxygen entering
the furnace from openings or as impurities in the nitrogen will cause
oxidation when heat treating stainless steels. This is also valid for alloys
 Neutral hardening and annealing 31

1 × 10 2 1 × 10 2
Fe2O 3 Fe2O 3
1 × 10 Cu 2O 1 × 10
Cu 2O
FeO
1 × 10–2 FeO 1 × 10–2
NiO
NiO Cr 2O3
Concentration O2 [vol%]

Concentration O2 [vol%]
1 × 10–4 Cr 2O 3 1 × 10–4 MnO
MnO
1 × 10–6 1 × 10–6 SiO 2

SiO 2
1 × 10–8 1 × 10–8

TiO
1 × 10–10 1 × 10–10

TiO
1 × 10–12 1 × 10–12

1 × 10–14 1 × 10–14

1 × 10–16 1 × 10–16
0.1 1 10 100 0.1 1 10 100
Concentration H2 [vol%] Concentration H2 [vol%]
at 850 °C at 1050 °C

Figure 34: Theoretically calculated maximum impurity of oxygen in the inlet nitrogen gas at two temperatures, 850 °C (1562 °F) (left) and 1050 °C (1922 °F) (right) and at
different hydrogen/nitrogen ratios with no oxidation of the metal as limitation. Note that logarithmic scales are used [6]. (Dotted lines in figure are explained in the text.)

5.3 Carbon control being equilibrated with the atmosphere. Expressions for the relation
between carbon activity and carbon potential are given in Appendix 3.
For neutral conditions, thus neither decarburising nor carburising, the By using the expressions for the equilibrium constants in Appendix 1
atmosphere carbon activity must be controlled to yield the nominal combined with the expressions in Appendix 3, it is possible to generate
carbon concentration in the surface of the heat treated steel. As was the carbon potential from any CO/H₂ atmosphere with knowledge of the
indicated in Figure 28, it is possible to calculate the atmosphere carbon temperature and the analysis of CO, H₂ and CO₂, dew point or millivolt
activity from the atmosphere concentrations of the species CO + CO₂, value from an oxygen probe.
CO + H₂ + H₂O or CO + O₂, which corresponds to well-known atmosphere
control systems using CO₂, dew point or oxygen probe analysis. Using The atmosphere carbon potential is not thermochemically equal to the
chemical equilibrium formulas, we can express the carbon activity in the carbon concentration of the steel except for just a binary iron-carbon
following alternative ways: alloy. The carbon activity, however, is the same for the atmosphere and
the steel at equilibrium. Therefore, the correct procedure, when choosing
ac = K₁ · (P2CO/PCO₂) a neutral atmosphere, is to first calculate the carbon activity of the steel.
The atmosphere carbon activity should then be controlled to the same
ac = K₂ · (PCO · PH₂/PH₂O) value. The carbon activity of the atmosphere is easily calculated utilising
the equations for K₁, K₂ and K₃. The corresponding atmosphere carbon
ac = K₃ · (PCO/P1/2O₂) potential may be taken from a graph or calculated with the equations
given in Appendix 3.
Expressions for the equilibrium constants K₁, K₂ and K₃ are found in
Appendix 1. These expressions are the basis for atmosphere carbon
control when assuming thermochemical equilibrium.

Industrial heat treaters seldom use the concept carbon activity but
prefer to use the ”carbon potential” to signify the atmosphere carbon
concentration. The atmosphere carbon potential is defined as the carbon
concentration expressed in weight % that a pure iron foil will have after
32 Neutral hardening and annealing

Table 8. Calculated atmosphere carbon activity and carbon potential for neutral hardening or annealing of various steels
(in austenitic condition).

Steel designation Temperature Alloy composition, wt% Carbon Carbon

activity, ac pot, %C
EN or DIN ASTM/AISI °C °F C Si Mn Cr Mo Ni V W
Fe-C (Pure iron) 850 1560 0.42 - - - - - - - 0.35 0.42
C15R 1016 885* 1625 0.15 0.4 0.45 0.10 0.16
16MnCr5 5117 925* 1695 0.16 0.4 1.15 1.05 0.08 0.15
20MnCr5 5120/5120H 925* 1695 0.20 0.4 1.25 1.15 0.10 0.19
20NiCrMoS2-2 8620 925* 1695 0.20 0.4 0.80 0.50 0.20 0.55 0.11 0.21
16NiCr4 4320/4320H 925* 1695 0.15 0.27 0.9 1.0 0.15 1.0 0.08 0.15
42 CrMo4 4140 850** 1560 0.42 0.27 0.75 1.05 0.22 0.28 0.38
100Cr6 52100 850** 1560 1.0 0.25 0.35 1.5 0.72 0.81
WNr1.2201 D2 1000** 1830 1.5 0.3 0.45 12 0.8 0.9 0.12 0.29
WNr 1.0904 9255 850** 1560 0.56 0.75 0.75 0.15 0.66 0.76
HS 6-5-2 M2 750* 1380 0.85 0.30 0.30 4.00 5.00 2.0 6.3 0.05 0.05
*Annealing or normalising temperature; ** Hardening temperature

For low-alloy steels, simplified formulas can be used to calculate the Carbon is a “poison” for most stainless steels as carbon easily reacts with
neutral atmosphere carbon potential (see Appendix 3), but for high-alloy chromium to form chromium carbide. If this occurs, it leads to lowered
steels such as tool and high-speed steels, a more rigorous equilibrium corrosion resistance. This is because the chromium will be bonded in the
calculation must be done. In Table 8, this is illustrated with calculations chromium carbides. The chromium concentration in solid solution, which
for some steels. From the table it is clear that the carbon concentration is what determines corrosion resistance, will consequently be lowered.
for low-alloy steels in equilibrium with the atmosphere is almost the Therefore, atmospheres for annealing of stainless steels must be free of
same as the atmosphere carbon potential. However, for high-alloy any carbon source. The same is valid for titanium.
steels, the difference between the atmosphere carbon potential and
the equilibrium carbon concentration in the steel may be considerable.
Consider for instance the steel WNr1.2201. The carbon concentration of 5.4 Relation between carbon and oxygen control
that steel is 1.5% C, but the equilibrium atmosphere carbon potential at
1000 °C (1830 °F) is only 0.29% C. The reason for this is that the steel Consider, as an example, the atmosphere requirement for avoiding
WNr1.2201 has a high chromium content and chromium attracts carbon oxidation of pure iron. The required atmosphere oxygen partial pressure
and lowers the carbon activity in the steel to the same level as for a and the corresponding atmosphere concentrations of CO₂/CO and
0.29% C binary iron-carbon alloy. H₂O/H₂ are given in Table 9 for the temperatures 800 °C (1470 °F)
and 900 °C (1650 °F). If the atmosphere should also be neutral with
In some cases, it is possible to use a principle for carbon control based respect to carbon for steels with different carbon concentrations, then
on kinetics instead of on equilibrium. By keeping the amounts of the required oxygen partial pressure is lowered as seen in the table. At
carburising and decarburising species so low that the carburising and 800 °C (1470 °F), for instance, the requirement to avoid oxidation of iron
decarburising rate is negligible, it is possible to maintain carbon neutral is a partial pressure of oxygen of maximum 1 x10–19 atm, whereas for
conditions. This principle is utilised for instance for annealing steel in avoiding decarburisation of a 0.5% C steel, the corresponding oxygen
pure hydrogen with an extremely low dew point. Another example of a partial pressure is 7 x10–23 atm. The corresponding required atmosphere
neutral atmosphere is a nitrogen/hydrocarbon (/hydrogen) atmosphere concentrations of CO₂ and H₂O can be calculated from the table. A
with low concentration of hydrocarbons (natural gas or propane) and a maximum CO₂ concentration of 2.5 vol% is enough to avoid iron oxide
low atmosphere dew point. formation, but a maximum 0.003 vol% is permitted for carbon neutral
heat treatment of the 0.5% C steel. Corresponding H₂O concentrations
Copper does not react with carbon. This means that atmospheres are 4.3 vol% (dew point +27 °C) and 0.11 vol% (dew point –19°C).
containing carbon in the form of CO or CO₂ etc. such as exogas, endogas, The example shows that there is a significant difference in atmosphere
nitrogen/methanol and so on can be used if they have the correct requirements for bright annealing compared to the requirements for
oxygen potential. The risk of soot deposits has to be considered and carbon neutral annealing of steels.
taken into account.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 33

Table 9. Atmosphere equilibrium oxygen partial pressure, PO₂ (eq),

and corresponding CO₂/CO and H₂O/H₂ volume concentration ratios
to yield a bright surface and no decarburisation of pure iron and
iron alloyed with carbon. The concentration ratios are given for an
atmosphere having 5 volume % CO and 10 vol% H₂

Anneal. wt% C PO₂ CO₂/CO H₂O/H₂

temp., °C (°F) in steel (eq) atm,
800 (1472) 0 1×10–19 0.52 0.43
0.1 3×10–21 0.090 0.075
0.3 2×10–22 0.023 0.019
0.5 7×10–23 0.014 0.011
900 (1652) 0 2×10–17 0.50 0.58
0.1 5×10–20 0.13 0.029
0.3 5×10–21 0.008 0.0092
0.5 1×10–21 0.004 0.0041

5.5 Nitrogen pick-up

When heat treating metals sensitive to nitrogen pick-up such as AISI 304, 1050 °C
1.6
molybdenum, titanium, beryllium, niobium, tantalum, vanadium and AISI 405, 1050 °C
zirconium or stainless steels, nitrogen gas is no longer neutral but may 1.4
Nitrogen content [mass%]

cause detrimental nitriding.

1.2
γ +ε
In the nitriding reaction 1.0
Cracked
N₂ → 2 N 0.8
ammonia
0.6
a nitrogen molecule, N₂, splits into two nitrogen atoms, 2 N, which γ γ
dissolve in the metal. This reaction can be neglected in most cases, 0.4
but not for stainless steels, where chromium attracts nitrogen and γ +ε
0.2
considerable amounts of nitrogen may dissolve in the steel as shown
in Figure 35. The surface nitrogen concentration is approximately 0
proportional to the square root of the atmosphere nitrogen concentration 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
1
as long as nitrogen is entering into solid solution in austenite. This PN (atm) /2
2
corresponds to the curve marked γ in the left part of the diagram. At a
certain nitrogen activity, there is a break point in the diagram at about
√ PN₂ = 0.3 and √ PN₂ = 0.8 respectively. Above this nitrogen activity, Figure 35: Theoretically calculated equilibrium surface nitrogen concentrations as a
there is a steeper slope of the theoretical curve caused by the formation function of atmosphere nitrogen activity after annealing of two stainless steels at
1050°C (1920°F) of an austenitic 18% Cr/8% Ni stainless steel type AISI 304 and a
of ε-nitride. In practice, the obtained nitrogen surface concentrations
ferritic 13% Cr steel type AISI 405 (calculated by Thermo-Calc) [6].
may be somewhat lower than theoretically predicted, because the
residence time is too short for equilibrium to be established.
34 Neutral hardening and annealing

Weight gain [mg/cm2] Weight gain [mg/cm2]

0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1
10 20 30 40 50 60 min 10 20 40 50 60 min
0 0
30
–0.1 –0.1

–0.2 –0.2

–0.3 –0.3

–0.4 –0.4

–0.5 –0.5

Weight loss [mg/cm2] Weight loss [mg/cm2]

Figure 36: Weight loss and weight change for oxidised stainless steel specimens when annealed in a reducing a) 100% hydrogen and b) 50% hydrogen/50% nitrogen
atmosphere at 1050 °C (1922 °F).

Figure 36 shows the results of experiments conducted with the intention regulations, however, in this case made argon the final solution. If the
of reducing oxide scales on an austenitic 18/8-type stainless steel by nitrogen concentration is above the solubility limit, meaning that nitrides
annealing in hydrogen at high temperature in a reducing atmosphere. are precipitated, then a negative effect on corrosion resistance will be
The left figure shows the weight loss due to oxide reduction when a obtained. This is because the solid solution of chromium is lowered
100% hydrogen atmosphere was used. The weight loss curve for that when chromium is concentrated in the nitrides in the same way as when
case stabilises after approximately 10 minutes annealing time. After chromium carbides are formed. Deteriorated corrosion resistance and
that time, all oxide has been reduced. When the same experiment is brittleness are potential risks for stainless steels.
conducted in a 50/50 nitrogen/hydrogen mixture, there is initially a
weight loss, but after 5–10 minutes the curve changes from weight loss The use of argon, hydrogen or mixtures thereof is recommended in
to weight gain. The weight increase is caused by nitrogen pick-up. The such cases. Titanium and zirconium may become brittle if annealed in
explanation is that as long as there is an oxide scale, the nitrogen pick- atmospheres containing nitrogen.
up is retarded or even stopped, but when the surface becomes “naked”
then nitrogen pick-up occurs at a fast rate. Positive effects from active nitriding of austenitic stainless steels are
obtained in cases when nitrogen is not precipitated as nitrides but only
The possible consequences of unwanted nitrogen pick-up are illustrated enters into solid solution in the austenite. An increase in the nitrogen
by the following example. Neutral hardened 13% chromium martensitic solid solution concentration improves corrosion resistance. Mechanical
stainless steel parts were made in a conveyor furnace with 100% properties can also improve, as an increase of nitrogen in solution will
nitrogen as an atmosphere. The parts showed a clean and almost bright increase yield stress.
surface, which was accepted as regards surface quality. After some time,
it was observed that ready hardened parts showed cracks apparently
formed in storage. Nitrogen analysis and hardness tests revealed that 5.6 Hydrogen embrittlement
the hardened parts had picked up nitrogen to very high levels, which
caused a strong hardness increase as shown in Figure 37. When annealing oxygen-bearing copper (not deoxidised), hydrogen
gas can react with the oxygen to form water vapour. Due to the
Further examinations clearly showed a relation between the nitrogen high pressure of water vapour formed and enclosed in the copper,
pick-up level and the atmosphere nitrogen content as foreseen by embrittlement may be a detrimental result.
theory. An interesting observation in Figure 38 is that nitrogen pick-
up does not occur in air although the nitrogen activity in air is high Certain high-strength steels with an ultimate tensile strength above
(=79 vol%). This is because an oxide forms, which is a barrier to nitriding 1050 MPa [8] can be sensitive to what is generally referred to as
(compare with Figure 36b). After replacing nitrogen with argon, the hydrogen embrittlement. Embrittlement does not appear during normal
nitrogen pick-up problem was eliminated. A further proposal was to run mechanical tensile tests but during static mechanical loading or during
the furnace with pure hydrogen, which should have the advantages slow strain rate tensile tests. Hydrogen concentrations in the steel as
of both improved surface finish and increased productivity. Safety
 Neutral hardening and annealing 35

wt% N Hardness [HRC] N [wt%]

0.5 60 0.4

0.4
55 0.3 Cracked
0.3 ammonia
50 0.2
N-concentration
0.2 Air
0.1
45
0.1
Hardness
40 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 aN = PN2
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2

50 100 N2 [vol%]

Figure 37: Relation between hardness and nitrogen pick-up after hardening in 100% Figure 38: Experimentally analysed nitrogen pick-up in a 13% Cr steel as a function of
N₂ at 1050°C (1922°F) of a 13% Cr steel. atmosphere nitrogen content.

low as 2–2.5 ppm can drastically reduce steel ductility. Embrittlement is Furnace temp. Coil temp.
caused by atomic hydrogen in highly supersaturated solution.
Vol% H₂ Vol% CO₂ Vol% CH₄
5
Titanium, zirconium, tantalum and some other metals have such a high 700
affinity to hydrogen that metal hydrides are formed. Generally, this leads 600 4
to embrittlement too.

Gas composition [%]

Temperature [°C]

500
3
400 Vaporising
5.7 Lubricant removal 300
temperature range
2

Lubricants, used in cold forming operations before annealing, remain 200

1
on the metal part surfaces. When the parts are heated to high enough 100
temperatures, these lubricants will vaporise, thermally decompose, or
0 0
react to form new compounds. It is important that the gaseous lubricant 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
products are effectively removed from the furnace. If not, there is a risk Time [hr]
that discolouration is obtained on the surfaces after annealing. This
is particularly important in strip coil batch furnace annealing of both
steels and nonferrous metals, but also when annealing is carried out in Figure 39: Gas analysis during heating of strip coils in a bell furnace.
continuous furnaces.

A general guideline for batch furnaces is that a high gas flow rate
should be used in the temperature range where the lubricant starts to
vaporise. This temperature range varies depending on lubricant, but is
typically in the range of 250–500 °C (482–932 °F). By using a high gas
flow rate in this temperature range, it is possible to transport away the
gaseous lubricant reaction products to ensure a bright surface. As the
purging procedure takes some time, it is useful to stop the heating in
this vaporising region until all vapour is purged away. The vaporising
sequence can be tracked by gas analysis during heating as shown in
Figure 39, which shows CO and CH₄ gas analysis in a bell furnace during
heating of strip coils. By purging away the vaporised lubricant, it is
possible to eliminate carbon deposits, which result from re­actions at
higher temperatures.
36 Neutral hardening and annealing

5.8 Buffering capacity

12
12
Buffering means the ability of the atmosphere to level out the disturbing
Carbon [mg/m2]

10
10 Ford influence of oxygen due to leakage and drag-in. High amounts of
8 specification reducing gas species, mainly carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂),
8
6
result in a high buffering capacity and also a high quality atmosphere
6 with good controllability. Reduction of oxygen with hydrogen takes place
6
4 5 by formation of water vapour according to the reaction
3
4
2 2.5 H₂ + 1/2 O₂ = H₂O.
0 1
DX DX HNX HNX H2 If, as an example, there is ingress of 1 vol% O₂ into the furnace
special special (100%)
atmosphere, we thus need a minimum of 2 vol% H₂ in the furnace
atmosphere to reduce the oxygen by water formation. If the amount of
oxygen ingress increases above 1 vol%, there will not be any hydrogen
left for further reduction. The result will be a certain amount of free
Figure 40: Carbon deposits for steel coupons annealed in different atmospheres. oxygen in the furnace atmosphere, leading to an oxidising atmosphere
DX=exogas, HNX=monogas [9]. against metals. If on the other hand the furnace atmosphere consists of
99% hydrogen, there will still be 97 vol% H₂ left after reducing the 1%
oxygen. The remaining hydrogen gives the atmosphere a high buffering
capacity. The buffering effect may be quantified by the ratio vol%
H₂O/vol% H₂ as a function of the atmosphere hydrogen concentration.
The ratio H₂O/H₂ is a direct measure of the oxidising effect of the
The use of 100% hydrogen atmospheres in strip coil bell furnace atmosphere. The higher the ratio, the more oxidising is the atmosphere.
annealing has the benefit that very clean surfaces are attained. This is The calculation gives the results shown in table 10.
for two reasons. First, the high reducing power assures an oxide-free
and bright surface. Selective oxidation of alloying elements is minimised It can be seen that the H₂O/H₂ ratio is very high at low hydrogen
or avoided. Secondly, hydrogen helps to vaporise and remove the concentrations but low at high hydrogen concentrations. In other words,
adhering lubricant upon heating. The lubricants are hydrogenated, which high hydrogen concentration atmospheres have a high buffering capacity
lowers their boiling point and accordingly makes evaporation easier. that can level out the disturbing influence of air ingress. In addition to
The hydrogen molecule is small and can penetrate between the strip improved quality of processed metals, a high buffering capacity also
coil turns, which improves the transport of lubricant vapour out of the gives a potential to reduce gas flow rates and costs.
furnace. As a result, surface carbon residue concentrations are markedly
reduced when annealing is conducted in 100% hydrogen, as seen in Table 10. The ratio H₂O/H₂ as a function of furnace atmosphere
Figure 40. hydrogen concentration when there is a disturbing ingress of
1 vol% O₂ into the atmosphere (the oxygen is assumed to react
Not only 100% hydrogen atmospheres provide this advantage but also completely with hydrogen to form water vapour).
in nitrogen/hydrogen atmospheres any additional hydrogen percentage
will improve surface cleanliness. As an example, the amount of carbon Vol% H₂ in
deposits in one case was reduced by 35% when increasing the hydrogen the inlet
concentration in the atmosphere from 3.5 to 6.5 vol%. Improved atmosphere 2.1 2.5 4 10 50 75 100
cleanliness has beneficial consequences for the quality of post surface Vol% O₂ in
treatments such as phosphatising with respect to adherence and coating the inlet
thickness. atmosphere 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Vol% H₂O
In continuous furnaces, the lubricant vapours can be removed by having after reduction 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
a gas flow direction that purges the vapours from the furnace. As seen Vol% H₂ remain-
in Figure 41, it can be visually checked whether the lubricant vapour is ing
exiting the furnace. after reduction 0.1 0.5 2 8 48 73 98
Ratio H₂O/H₂ 20 4 1 0.25 0.04 0.03 0.02
 Neutral hardening and annealing 37

Dew point
500 200
°F °C
450 180

104 40 400 160

350 140

O2 concentration [ppm]
Temperature
300 120

Temperature
68 20
250 100

200 80

150 60
32 –0
100 40

50 O2 concentration 20

–4 –20 0 0
580 620 660 700 °C Time
1076 1148 1220 1292 °F
Temperature
Figure 41: Oil vapours exiting the tube ends at the inlet of a furnace. Figure 42: Measured oxygen concentration as a function of temperature when reacting
100 ppm oxygen in nitrogen with 1% hydrogen in a furnace with a copper wire coil as
load.

5.9 Non-equilibrium 5.10 Gas flow rate and flow pattern

A homogenous reduction of oxygen by reaction with hydrogen will first To minimise gas cost and to improve productivity, it is essential to adapt
occur at a noticeable rate above approximately 600 °C. In the presence the gas flow rate to actual conditions. General guidelines are:
of catalysing surfaces, this temperature is lowered. Figure 42 shows
measurements from an experiment in a furnace filled with copper • Use high flow rate in the beginning of a cycle and when changing the
material. The analysis was made with respect to oxygen instead of atmosphere composition to condition the atmosphere as fast as
the dew point. In this experiment, oxygen already starts to react and possible. Later in the cycle, low flow rates can be used to maintain
form water at a temperature of about 100 °C (212 °F), documented stable conditions. Figure 43 shows the purging curve for a furnace
by a decreasing oxygen concentration. At a temperature of about originally filled with air. By using a high nitrogen flow rate during
200 °C (392 °F), all the oxygen seems to have reacted to form water. start-up, up to the point corresponding to 3–5 furnace volumes, it is
This illustrates the effect of catalysing surfaces on gaseous reactions. possible to shorten the time to reach atmosphere conditions good
Two important conclusions can be drawn from the experiment. The enough for starting the annealing or hardening cycle.
first is that hydrogen additions will be useful and provide reducing • The total gas flow into the furnace has to be increased by means of
conditions only above a certain temperature. The second is that oxygen increased furnace inlet and exit cross section areas in contact with
in the atmosphere, coming from leakages or from impure gas, cannot ambient air. Furnace suppliers recommend a flow corresponding to
be compensated by the addition of reducing gas below a minimum 3–4 m³/h of gas per dm2 area open to air. The consequence in tube
temperature. Clean gases therefore are required at low temperatures for annealing is that the flow should increase with increased tube
high quality results because oxygen impurities cannot be reduced by diameter.
hydrogen or carbon monoxide. • More gas is needed in a furnace room subjected to air drafts from
open doors for example.
Some gaseous reactions are sluggish also at high temperatures. Slow • Adapt the flow rate to the degree of disturbance from lubricant
reacting gas species include the hydrocarbons, methane, propane or vaporising.
propylene. The equilibrium concept for carbon and oxy­­­gen control cannot • The flow rate can be lowered if the atmosphere buffering capacity is
be applied when these gases are used. Empirical control provides good increased. This means that the flow rate can be lower for a 100%
results in situations with air-tight furnaces and low disturbances from air hydrogen atmosphere than for a 100% nitrogen atmosphere.
ingress. Annealing and hardening in N₂/CH₄ or N₂/CH₄/H₂ mixtures are
therefore used with good results in such cases.
38 Neutral hardening and annealing

N2+ H2
200,000 N2 N2 N2
Oxygen concentration [ppm]

Heating zone Cooling zone

150,000

100,000 N2 N2+ H2 N2 N2

50,000

H2 [%]
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number of volume changes

Furnace length

Figure 43: Purging curve showing the number of furnace volumes of nitrogen required Figure 44: Hydrogen concentration over the length of a continuous furnace
to come down to a certain oxygen concentration in a furnace room originally filled
with air (perfect mixing assumed).

It is difficult to give general guidelines for flow rates, but here are a few a non‑flammable atmosphere is obtained by dilution with nitrogen at
rough rules of thumb: these points.

• 0.5–5 furnace volumes per hour in tight batch furnaces.

• 0.5–1.5 furnace volumes per hour in continuous furnaces with air- 5.11 The atmosphere control system
tight loading and unloading openings.
• 2–10 furnace volumes per hour in continuous furnaces with open Based on the principles described previously, an atmosphere control
loading and unloading openings. system must have: 1) a gas analysing system and 2) a flow and gas
mixture control system that maintains the atmosphere composition
The atmosphere flow in a continuous furnace should be directed towards within set limits. In a continuous furnace, these atmosphere composition
the furnace inlet, thereby purging air, moisture and residual lubricant set points can vary in different zones of the furnace. In a batch furnace,
vapours out of the furnace. A typical distribution is 2/3 towards the the atmosphere composition set points can change with process time.
furnace inlet and 1/3 towards the outlet.
An example of an atmosphere control system is shown in Figure 45.
Different gases and methanol may be introduced in different relative Samples of the furnace atmosphere from different zones are taken with
amounts and at different locations of the furnace in order to yield the help of a gas sample pump and a scanning system that gradually
specific properties and functions of the atmosphere. Correct choice leads changes the location in the furnace from where the sample is taken. The
to lower gas consumption, improved quality, higher productivity, and to a sample is analysed in the control cabinet. The flow control valves in the
safer process. Active gases, such as hydrogen, endogas, and dissociated flow train are in a closed loop connected with the atmosphere analysis.
methanol are introduced at a location where their reactive and reducing A control system often includes a PC enabling the visualisation of the
properties are useful. This is normally a high temperature location. process, alarm handling, data logging, recipe handling and so on.
Nitrogen inlets are chosen to give the required composition at different
locations. Gas inlets and flow rates are located and chosen to ensure Carbon potential control of the atmosphere, required for neutral
safety, that is to give non-flammable compositions at furnace inlets and annealing and hardening of steels, is conducted by the use of an
outlets. “enriching gas”, usually propane or natural gas. The enriching gas is
usually fed into the furnace via an on/off solenoid valve, which is
Figure 44 shows a concentration profile that can be achieved by the controlled by the difference between carbon potential set point and
injection of proper amounts of nitrogen and hydrogen respectively at actual carbon potential. The solenoid valve opens when the actual
the proper locations in a continuous annealing furnace. A high reducing atmosphere carbon potential falls below the set point and closes above
power is created in the hot part of the furnace, where it is needed, the set point. The amount of enriching gas, sometimes called carrier gas,
by injecting all the hydrogen there. At the furnace inlets and outlets, is very small compared to the amount of main gas supplied.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 39

Temperature

PO 2

A B C D E

Heating zone Cooling zone

Analysis
Flow
Control
train
cabinet
Hydrogen Nitrogen
Nitrogen

Figure 45: Principal atmosphere controlling zones in a continuous annealing furnace. Figure 46: Example of a control cabinet for a nitrogen/endogas system

The letter notations A, B, C, etc. in the upper part of Figure 45 refer to the analysis is registered in the control cabinet and compared with a
the following atmosphere requirements in the different zones: set point value for each zone. The difference between the actual value
and the set point is the control parameter for the flow control in the
A: The atmosphere should help to eliminate vaporised surface flow train. The gas flows for nitrogen, endogas and enriching gases are
contaminants such as adhering lubricants in order to avoid the controlled in the flow train seen on the right. The flows of the flammable
formation of soot deposits. gases, endogas, natural gas and air are automatically switched off and
the furnace purged with nitrogen in the event of safety-related alarms or
B: When the temperature exceeds approximately 500°C (930°F), the a power failure.
oxidation rate is considerable. The atmosphere must accordingly be
reduced to avoid oxidation and preferably also to reduce surface oxides With a closed loop control system, the annealing quality is ensured
that were formed earlier. through proper composition control of the atmosphere in the different
furnace zones. In the hot zone, this is achieved either by changing the
C: The atmosphere should maintain reducing conditions and in the case of total flow of nitrogen and hydrogen or by changing the mixing ratio of
steels also maintain carbon neutrality. nitrogen/hydrogen. In the cooling zone, the oxygen concentration set
point is maintained by controlling the nitrogen flow into that zone. The
D: Upon cooling, the risk of oxidation is increased because the flow rate is minimised at any time based on the requirement that the
oxygen equilibrium pressure over oxides decreases with decreased atmosphere composition is within set limits at each moment. This will
temperature (see Figures 30–34). The atmosphere must therefore be lead to quality assurance and gas savings as illustrated in Figure 47.
highly reducing in this zone.
Manual analysis is an alternative to automated atmosphere composition
E: Although the oxygen equilibrium pressure decreases with lowered and flow control. It is less costly than the automated systems and serves
temperature, the rate of oxidation will be low at temperatures below well in cases where atmosphere conditions are stable and constant. Gas
about 150 °C (300 °F) for steels. In this section it is therefore sufficient flow rate and mixing for such a system are adjusted to yield the correct
to have a neutral and oxygen-free atmosphere. atmosphere analysis and required heat treatment quality.

Atmosphere analysis and control for the system shown in Figure 45 is

based on dew point analysis in the hot zone and oxygen control in the
cooling zone. An example of a control cabinet for a nitrogen/endogas
system is shown in the left part of Figure 46. The cabinet is equipped
with a PC as the man/machine interface, a PLC for process control, a
gas sampling system, a gas analyser, a modem for remote supervision
and control, and a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) unit. The result of
40 Neutral hardening and annealing

Increased flow for assured quality

Gas flow to the furnace

Gas flow to the furnace

Gas savings

Time [h] Time [h]

Outside set point, quality at risk

Furnace atmosphere

Furnace atmosphere
composition

composition

Time [h] Time [h]

Figure 47: Illustration of quality assurance and potential gas savings by using a closed loop atmosphere control system for a) fixed gas flow and b) closed loop variable gas flow.

5.12 Examples of applications 5.12.2 Annealing of aluminium strip coils

It is practically impossible to create an atmosphere which is reducing
Just pure nitrogen is used for purging upon start-up or shutdown. It against aluminium oxide. Nevertheless, pure nitrogen atmospheres
is also used during idling when production is stopped, for instance in are used with positive results. The reason is that even if a thin oxide is
continuous furnaces. In this way good conditions are created for short formed, the use of nitrogen retards its growth.
atmosphere conditioning when starting production again. Nitrogen or
carbon dioxide is also used for fire extinguishing. A specific and important beneficial effect of the use of nitrogen
atmospheres with controlled oxygen concentration and dew point can
In very tight furnaces, the amount of oxygen brought into the furnace be seen in the annealing of cold rolled strip coils. Adhering lubricant
with the nitrogen can be completely consumed, resulting in a complete tends to create discoloured areas and staining, when annealing is done
stop of any oxidation process. Reducing vapours for instance from in air or in an oxidising atmosphere. By using nitrogen with low oxygen
vaporised lubricants may help to reduce the oxygen level. Therefore, content it is possible to eliminate the discolouring. Figure 48 is an
nitrogen atmospheres can under certain circumstances produce illustration of how the discolouring occurs within an area of the strip coil,
completely bright or slightly oxidised surfaces, often with a light grey where the atmosphere oxygen concentration lies within a certain range.
surface appearance on steels. Above and below this concentration range the strip surface is bright.

5.12.1 Stress relieving and tempering of steels The discolouring problem is severe especially for Mg-alloyed qualities.
Stress relieving and tempering is performed at low temperature, typically According to recommendations by furnace suppliers this problem can be
below 600 °C (1112 °F). At this low temperature, hydrogen or other avoided by using an atmosphere with less than 0.1 vol% oxygen. It has
reducing gases will not react fast enough to reduce the oxygen that been demonstrated that the surface finish also improves when lowering
enters the furnace. Pure nitrogen atmospheres therefore are the primary the oxygen level below 0.1 vol%.
choice in these cases. High-purity nitrogen is recommended in order
to limit the risk of oxidising the alloy. It is not enough to have a high Figure 49a shows the atmosphere dew point and oxygen analysis
purity of the nitrogen source. It is even more important to maintain made during heating of strip coils in a batch furnace. After heating
the purity inside the furnace. Typically, the oxygen concentration level for approximately 1.5 hours corresponding to a temperature of
should be below 100–200 ppm to avoid discolouration from oxidation. approximately 200 °C (390 °F) there are peaks registered both for the
This can be realised by analysing the oxygen concentration inside the dew point and for the oxygen concentration in a restricted temperature
furnace and by regulating the nitrogen flow into the furnace. The flow range. The peaks originate from reaction products from vaporised
should be high enough to assure that the oxygen concentration is below lubricants. Experience has shown that the discolouring is correlated to
a required set point. A similar system to the one described in the next the height of these gas concentration peaks. High peaks correspond to
section, “Annealing of aluminium strip coils”, can be used to fulfil these heavy discolouration and vice versa.
requirements.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 41

Temp [°C (°F)] Dew point O2 [vol%]

O2 [vol%]
[°C (°F)]
Atmos- Coil 500 20 1.0
(932) (68)
phere
Dew point
400 0 0.8
Critical O2 level (752) (32)

300 –20 0.6

(572) (–4)
Air Coil temperature
N2 200 –40 0.4
(392) (–40)

Band edge 100 –60 0.2

(212) O2 concentration (–76)

0
12 34 5 Time [h]
a

Temp [°C (°F)] Dew point O2 [vol%]

[°C (°F)]
500 20 1.0
(932) (68)

Bright Stained Bright 400 0 0.8

(752) (32)
Dew point
Figure 48: Illustration of the relation between discolouring and atmosphere oxygen
concentration for aluminium strip coils. 300 –20 0.6
(572) (–4)
Coil temperature
200 –40 0.4
(392) (–40)

100 –60 0.2

(212)
O2 concentration (–76)
By using a high flow rate of nitrogen of liquid purity during heating
through the critical temperature regime for lubricant vaporising, it is 0
12 34 5 Time [h]
possible to minimise the above mentioned gas concentration peaks
and therefore also discolouration. In this way, the lubricant vapours are b
purged out of the furnace before their concentration reaches the level Figure 49: Atmosphere concentration measurements as a function of temperature for
that can cause discolouring reactions. A closed loop flow control system a) fixed nitrogen flow rate controlled over time and b) controlled nitrogen flow rate
by analysis.
based on atmosphere concentration analysis ensures proper quality.
Figure 49b shows how a closed atmosphere flow rate control system
can suppress the dew point and oxygen peaks, thereby assuring a high
quality strip surface appearance.
From this result and additional experiments, a nitrogen flow control
5.12.3 Copper wire coil annealing system based on oxygen analysis was developed. The total flow is
A system originally developed for a nitrogen/hydrogen atmosphere continuously controlled by the O₂ analysis. If the actual O₂ concentration
system turned out to give bright and good surface quality with only is higher than the set point, the total gas flow rate is increased. If the
nitrogen when annealing copper wire coils in a batch furnace. As shown actual O₂ concentration is lower than the set point, the total gas flow
in Table 11, a condition for obtaining a bright surface was low enough rate is decreased. This results in minimised gas consumption and quality
oxygen impurity level (< 20 ppm in the test). assurance. In the manual mode, the system maintains a constant flow
rate of nitrogen into the furnace and the O₂ concentration is monitored.
Table 11. Surface appearance of copper wire after annealing in
nitrogen with different oxygen impurity levels

Oxygen level in
Test No. H₂ vol% gas exhaust, ppm Comments
1 0 < 20 Bright
2 0 500 Oxidised
3 0 100 Oxidised
4 3 very low Bright
42 Neutral hardening and annealing

Carboflex-AE

deviation between actual reading and set point is the input signal for
automatic adjustment. The adjustment signal is sent from the control
Heating zone Cooling zone cabinet to the flow train, which automatically adjusts flows and mixtures
in order to attain the set point gas analysis inside the furnace. There is
on-line carbon potential control of the atmosphere in the hot zone of the
Endogas furnace. In other parts of the furnace, other regulating algorithms are
generator used, for instance to eliminate the risk of soot deposits from vaporised or
cracked lubricants and to assure a bright end result.
N2
Flow
Analysis
Control train Endogas
The CARBOFLEX control cabinet contains a PLC for control and a PC
cabinet
with a touch screen as the man/machine interface, seen on the left in
Air Air
Natural gas Natural gas Nitrogen Figure 46. Settings of the atmosphere parameters, recipe handling, alarm
setting, start up and stop, calibration of analysers, and viewing of actual
furnace atmosphere data are carried out from the PC touch screen on the
control unit.
Figure 50: The CARBOFLEX atmosphere control system incorporating an external
endogas generator. The system enables historical logged data to be stored, viewed and
evaluated for statistical process control and it can be connected to a
central computer supervision system and made remotely accessible via
modem or Internet.

A major benefit of the installed systems is carbon control, which has

enabled decarburisation-free annealing to be carried out to meet strict
5.12.4 CARBOFLEX atmospheres quality requirements. Active controlled carburising is also possible. This
The predominant class of atmospheres capable of high quality carbon may be done on tubes that have to withstand mechanical loads or wear.
potential control has nitrogen (N₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen Even controlled decarburising is possible; this can for instance improve
(H₂) as major constituents. The CO and H₂ parts originate either from the bending properties of the tubes.
endogas or from cracked methanol.
Compared to exogas, the nitrogen/endogas atmosphere has a much
In a rotary retort furnace, the parts processed are continuously moved better buffering capability (the ratio (CO + H₂)/(CO₂ + H₂O)), which
and accordingly all surfaces are evenly exposed to the atmosphere. In eliminates the disturbing effects of air entering the furnace. Less gas is
a fluidised bed, the gas also comes into close and even contact with consequently required to maintain the atmosphere quality.
the parts. For such furnaces, it is often a good solution, with respect to
carbon neutrality, to use a non-equilibrium N₂ /natural gas atmosphere. Optimised recipes with different flows are available to adapt flow to
tube dimension and tube qualities. Special idling programs are used to
5.12.5 Steel tube annealing minimise gas consumption when there is no production.
Steel tube elements are more and more used in cars for critical
parts. The automotive industry thus requires tubes which meet strict 5.12.6 Hardening of steel parts
decarburisation specifications. These demands are impossible to meet if There are hundreds of CARBOFLEX nitrogen methanol systems installed
exogas is used. in sealed quench furnaces used both for hardening and for carburising.
Neutral hardening requires a lower methanol fraction compared to
Figure 50 shows the features of a CARBOFLEX atmosphere control carburising. This is because there is no need for the atmosphere
system based on the combination of nitrogen and an external endogas to actively transfer carbon to the steel. Typically, an 80% N₂/20%
generator. methanol atmosphere is used. It is important to adjust the settings
for CO₂, oxygen probe or dew point for the carbon potential control
The gas flow train, shown in Figure 50 and as installed in Figure 46, to the applied nitrogen/methanol mixture (see Appendix of furnace
contains flow meters, regulating valves and pressure sensors for atmospheres 1: Gas carburising and carbonitriding).
nitrogen, endogas, natural gas and air. The gas flows for nitrogen and
endogas into the different zones of the furnace are regulated from the Methanol can usually be injected into the furnace ventilator area. This
flow train. Gas samples are taken from different positions in the furnace has the advantage that the liquid methanol is dispersed by the ventilator
and the gas sample is pumped to the control cabinet, seen on the far and is therefore correctly vaporised and dissociated into carbon
left in Figure 46. There the sample is analysed with respect to different monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂).
species by the analysers mounted in the control cabinet. A sample
gas scanning system makes it possible to conduct step-by-step gas A conveyor furnace typically has a low height and a restricted cross
analysis from different positions in the furnace. The actual gas analysis section. It is a poor solution to inject methanol as liquid into the interior
is compared with set points for different parts of the furnace and the of such a furnace. The reason is the risk of creating a cold spot at the
 Neutral hardening and annealing 43

Control panel

Gas
Methanol inlet
Methanol pump
Furnace

N2
Gas analysis

Calibration gas
Control
cabinet

Figure 51: A nitrogen/methanol CARBOFLEX system with nitrogen supply from a membrane unit.

point of injection, because methanol dissociation requires energy, which is responsible for taking appropriate measures if there is an alarm. With
is taken from the limited surrounding volume. This results in a locally this system, the customer can fully concentrate on producing parts
decreased temperature. Negative consequences can be deposits of without having to bother about maintenance of the atmosphere system
soot at the point of injection. A better solution is to use a vaporiser for including the generators.
methanol, in which methanol is vaporised before entering the furnace.
Upon vaporising, there is a volume increase of approximately a factor 5.12.7 Stainless steel tube annealing
of 600. When entering the furnace, the vapour is spread into a wide A HYDROFLEX nitrogen/hydrogen atmosphere control system with
space. The energy required for heating to furnace temperature and for dew point control for bright annealing of stainless steels is shown in
dissociation of methanol is also taken from this wide space, resulting in Figure 52.
Hydroflex nitrogen/hydrogen
a negligible temperature drop. Figure 26 shows an example of how such
a methanol vaporiser is positioned at the rear furnace wall, just over the
Dew point Oxygen
quench chute in a conveyor furnace.

Annealing zone Cooling zone

The use of membrane nitrogen, containing up to 1 vol% oxygen is, when
applicable, usually a cost advantage compared to the use of high-purity
liquid nitrogen, provided that the temperature is high enough and that
there are enough of the reducing components CO and H₂ that can react
with oxygen to form CO₂ and H₂O respectively. A diagram of a CARBOFLEX Flow
Control train
membrane nitrogen/methanol system for hardening of parts is shown in
cabinet
Figure 51. The membrane unit produces nitrogen with a typical purity of
Hydrogen
99.5%. For peak flows and for back up purposes, a liquid nitrogen tank Nitrogen
is also installed. Carbon potential control is performed with an oxygen
probe and with propane as an enriching gas. All methanol is injected at
the location of one of the furnace ventilators in the hot zone. Nitrogen Figure 52: HYDROFLEX nitrogen/hydrogen system for bright annealing
inlets are located towards the inlets and outlets.
The result of the dew point analysis is registered in the control cabinet
The same principal atmosphere system as shown in Figure 50 has been and compared with a set point value. The difference between the actual
applied in continuous furnaces for hardening of bearing components. value and the set point is the control parameter for the flow control in
Air-cooled endogas generators with analysis control of the endogas the gas mixing panel.
composition are used. In case of generator failure, there is a stand-by
generator that can be put into production while the failed generator There are three different lines for nitrogen in the gas mixing panel
is maintained. Additionally, there is a backup storage of gas cylinders in Figure 52, one for flow control into the hot furnace, one for safety
which, in the worst case of double generator failure, can supply the nitrogen purging and one to the cooling zone.
required furnace atmosphere. The system was set up to include remote
supervision, managed from a Linde Gas control centre. The control centre
44 Neutral hardening and annealing

Temperature
Furnace 2, 3, etc.

Reduction
Furnace Cu 2O+H 2 = Cu+H2O

Gas mixer
Flow Oxidation
Hydrogen H2
meter 2 Cu+ 1/2 O2 = Cu2O
Liquid N2

Vaporiser

Figure 53: A HYDROFLEX system for copper annealing in a pit furnace. Figure 54: Temperature profile for reducing and oxidising reactions in a copper tube
annealing furnace.

5.12.8 Steel strip and wire coil annealing After testing pure nitrogen and different nitrogen/hydrogen mixtures, it
was found that a HYDROFLEX nitrogen/1% hydrogen mixture provided
The important advantages of using 100% hydrogen with respect to a proper product quality. The nitrogen/hydrogen system provided a
productivity and cleanliness have resulted in a replacement of N₂/H₂ lower cost than for exogas. This was because the gas flow rate could
or HNX atmospheres. The higher gas cost is compensated by increased be drastically reduced, from 30 m³/h with exogas to 7 m³/h for the
productivity and improved surface quality. Annealing in bell furnaces nitrogen/hydrogen system. Additional gas savings were obtained
with pure hydrogen atmospheres has the same advantage for copper with flow reductions during idling and non-productive hours. The gas
strip coils as for steel strip coils. In fact, 100% hydrogen bell furnaces system, shown in Figure 53, consists of a central gas mixer for nitrogen/
were first developed for annealing brass strip coils and the furnace hydrogen and separate flow meters for each furnace.
technology was later further developed for steel.
In the case of brass strip coil annealing in a high convection bell furnace,
5.12.9 Continuous stainless steel wire annealing it was found that an atmosphere of pure nitrogen gave bright surfaces.
In one case, a cracked ammonia system was replaced by a nitrogen/ However, when 25% hydrogen was added, the annealing treatment
hydrogen system. The lowest possible hydrogen concentration to yield a cycle was reduced by about two hours due to faster heating and cooling.
bright annealing result was found to be 25 vol%. However, the degree An additional benefit was that the furnace fan requires less electric
of nitrogen pick-up, caused by the 75% nitrogen in the atmosphere, power due to the lower density of the N₂/H₂ mixture compared with
was unacceptably high. Therefore, nitrogen was replaced with argon, pure N₂.
maintaining the hydrogen concentration level at 25%. The cooling rate
was then too low, which meant that the wire exited the furnace at too 5.12.11 Copper tube annealing
high a temperature, resulting in oxidation and discolouring. A 100% The use of exogas is common for copper annealing. The buffering
hydrogen atmosphere was therefore chosen as the final solution. There capacity and the oxygen potential of the exogas at annealing
were fears that gas costs would run too high. However, it was found that temperature are sufficiently high. However, there are frequent problems
the huge buffering capacity of this atmosphere meant a possible gas with discolouration of parts due to oxidation in the cooling zone of the
flow reduction of 60%. Furthermore, the productivity was increased due annealing furnace. With an exogas generator, it is not possible to have
to faster heating and cooling by approximately 25%. In conclusion, the an on-line closed loop atmosphere control that reacts to a registration
hydrogen system paid off and resulted in improved product quality. of an excessive free oxygen concentration in the cooling zone. This
is because of the inflexibility of an exogas generator with respect to
5.12.10 Annealing of copper and brass strip coils changes in flow rate or in atmosphere composition. A nitrogen/hydrogen
A customer wanted to replace an exogas generator system for annealing system can however be made to react to and level out such disturbances.
of copper strip coils in pit furnaces. There were two major reasons; first
a desire to get rid of the generator, which had high maintenance and Figure 54 illustrates that the risk of oxidation in copper tube annealing is
repair costs, and secondly, a need to improve surface quality of annealed highest in the cooling zone. One requirement is therefore to assure that
coils. the level of free oxygen in the cooling zone is below a critical value. In
 Neutral hardening and annealing 45

HYDROFLEX controller graphics HYDROFLEX flow graphics

–5 160
70
140
–10 60
120
50
–15 100
40

Flor Nm/h3
Dew point

80

Oxygen
30
–20
60
20
40
–25 10

20
0
–30
0
14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:16 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

Figure 55: The HYDROFLEX atmosphere control system displaying: a) The variation of the actual analysis values for dew point (upper curve) and oxygen (lower curve) and
b) The variation of the flow rates to the hot zone (lower curve) and cooling.

the hot zone, soot deposits must be eliminated by removing lubricant Decarburisation rate increases with increased water vapour
vapours. This is realised by keeping the atmosphere dew point as high concentration. The upper limit of water vapour concentration is set by
as possible without oxidising the copper. The lubricants are removed by the limit where iron is oxidised. This limit can be expressed as an H₂O/
an atmosphere flow that is directed towards the furnace inlet. In the hot H₂ ratio (see section 5.2). A water vapour concentration increase can be
zone, there is a possibility to reduce copper oxides, which may remain compensated by increased hydrogen concentration to achieve the fastest
from earlier processing. possible decarburisation, while still not oxidising the iron.

A HYDROFLEX nitrogen/hydrogen atmosphere control system for copper This application does not require the highest nitrogen purity and
annealing has the same principal layout as the one shown in Figure 52. therefore PSA or membrane nitrogen may be a good nitrogen supply
The level of hydrogen in the gas mixture is, however, kept at 1–2 vol%. alternative if the flow rate is above 10m³/h.
It may be advantageous to have a central gas mixing station shared by
several furnaces, but to have a separate atmosphere control system for Figure 56 shows a diagram of a decarburising furnace with gas supply
each furnace. Pictures of the HMI (Human Machine Interface) part of the and process requirements. Decarburising is carried out in the hot part
control cabinet and the flow train of such an atmosphere control system of the furnace at about 800 °C (1472 °F) with the help of water injected
are shown in Figure 55. in that zone together with nitrogen and hydrogen. There is usually a
second oxidising step, marked blueing in the figure, in which a thin blue
5.12.12 Decarburisation annealing oxide is formed. The oxide acts as a dielectric on the decarburised parts.
Decarburisation of steel is performed mainly for the reason of improved
magnetic properties. Sample products include silicon iron sheets for
transformer laminations, motor cores, and so on. Decarburisation is most
efficiently done in nitrogen/hydrogen/water vapour atmospheres as the
fastest decarburising reaction is:

C + H₂O → CO + H₂

N2 N2 + H 2 + H 2O H 2O N2

Blueing
Decarburising
(oxidation)

Figure 56: Atmosphere system for decarburising.

46 Neutral hardening and annealing

Methanol Heating
Charging
inlets zone Cooling Discharging
zone
zone zone

Nitrogen inlets
CO, H2 [%]

12

4
H2
0
CO

CO2 [%]

0.4

0.2

Temp [°C] Temp [°F]

800 1472

400 752

0 32
0 20 40 60 80 100 m

Figure 57: Atmosphere composition variation in a long continuous furnace.

5.12.13 Steel strip coil annealing In vacuum heat treatment, the occurrence of gaseous molecules is so
Figure 57 shows the setup of a nitrogen/methanol CARBOFLEX system rare that there are no net reactions such as oxidation or carburising
in a roller hearth furnace for strip coil annealing. Methanol inlets are with the metal surface. If the vapour pressure of a certain element at
located in the hot zones of the furnace to ensure proper dissociation and the actual temperature is higher than the actual vacuum pressure, then
to produce an active, reducing and carbon neutral atmosphere. Nitrogen that element will vaporise. This is mostly a beneficial effect because dirt
inlets are located along the furnace some distance away from the or oxides remaining on the metal parts will vaporise. Parts exiting the
methanol inlets. In this way a proper atmosphere composition gradient furnace after a vacuum heat treatment cycle therefore are mostly cleaner
is obtained, with a high concentration of active and reducing gas in the than upon entering.
hot zone and a non-flammable composition at inlets and outlets, as
illustrated in Figure 57. 5.13.1 Classification of vacuum systems
In order to create a vacuum within a closed container, or vessel, the
During annealing of strip or wire coils in a bell furnace, the temperature molecules of air and other gases that reside inside must be removed by
rises fairly slowly from ambient to treatment temperature. means of a pumping system. The vacuum system includes the pumps and
furnace, together with the associated piping, valves, vacuum gauges/
Annealing temperature normally is in the range 700–800 °C (1292– instrumentation and other components of the system. Vacuum systems
1472 °F). The slow heating rate and the low process temperature make can be classified by the pressure range achieved, as shown in Table 12.
nitrogen/methanol a rarely used atmosphere choice. In some cases, it is, Vacuum is, as evident from the table, a relative status.
however, a proper choice, but methanol must not be introduced until the
temperature exceeds approximately 700 °C (1292°F). Methanol injection Table 12. Classification of vacuum systems
must normally be carried out from the furnace bottom and flow upwards.
A methanol vaporiser is used for proper introduction. This procedure is Quality of vacuum Pressure range Number of oxygen
described in section 4. molecules per m³
Pa mbar
Atmospheric pressure 5.6×1024
5.13 Vacuum as atmosphere Rough 102–105 1–103 5.6×1021
Fine 10–1–102 10–3–1 5.6×1018
Vacuum acts like an inert gas in the sense that there are no gas species High 10–5–10–1 10–7–10–3 5.6×1014
that can cause detrimental oxidation or other reactions. Vacuum is even Ultra-high <10–5 10–7
active in removing detrimental surface residues on parts to be heat-
treated by vaporising the residues and pumping them out of the furnace. Different vacuum pumps are required to reach the various vacuum levels.
At high enough temperature and low enough pressure, oxide removal by The systems are generally configured with three pumps: a positive
dissociation is possible. displacement mechanical pump (often called a roughing pump), a
booster pump, and a diffusion pump. The roughing pump is used in
 Neutral hardening and annealing 47

Pressure Furnace temperature

Part temperature centre

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Step

Figure 58: Temperature and pressure cycles in vacuum heat treatment.

(The steps, 1–8, are explained in the text.)

the initial pump-down from atmospheric pressure to approximately 3 Referring to Figure 58, the heat treatment cycle follows these steps:
Pa (3 × 10–2 mbar). The booster pump is a mechanical pump placed →→ Step 1: The load is charged into the furnace. A vacuum pump (rough
in series with the roughing pump and designed to “cut in”, or start at pump) removes much of the air that entered the furnace with the
around 9.5 kPa (95 mbar). It is designed to provide higher pump-down load. Another pump (normally a diffusion pump) reduces the pressure
speeds in the pressure range of 1.3 kPa (1.3 × 10–2 mbar) to 0.1 Pa further. Nitrogen can be used for backfilling after the initial vacuum
(1 × 10–3 mbar). In this intermediate pressure range, the roughing pump pump-down. After backfilling, the furnace is again evacuated.
loses efficiency while the diffusion (vapour) pump just begins to gain Backfilling and subsequent pumping can be repeated and result in an
efficiency. The diffusion pump is a type of vapour pump and is used to appreciable lowering of oxygen and humidity concentrations.
help achieve even lower system pressures. The diffusion pump is capable
of pumping gas with full efficiency at inlet pressures not exceeding →→ Step 2: Inert gas (nitrogen) is let into the furnace and the pressure is
3 Pa (3 × 10–2 mbar) and discharge pressures not exceeding 65 Pa increased to a pressure in the range 0.9–1.5 bar to allow for
(6.5 × 10–1 Torr). The diffusion pump cannot operate independently; it convection heating. (Modern vacuum furnaces are equipped with a
requires a separate pump to reduce the chamber pressure to or below fan for convective heating. Nitrogen is mostly used for convective
the diffusion pump’s maximum intake pressure before it will operate. heating. Argon, hydrogen or helium could also be used.) If there is no
fan, the pressure is maintained at a low value. Heating in that case is
5.13.2 The role of gas in vacuum heat treatment slower as it will only be by radiation.
Although vacuum in simple terms means freedom from gas, for vacuum
heat treatment there is a need for substantial amounts of gases; mainly →→ Step 3: Heating of the load begins. The heating rate should allow the
nitrogen but also argon, and sometimes hydrogen and helium. The gases parts to heat uniformly to minimise distortion. The parts are held for a
are used primarily for cooling, but also for initial purging, and as back-fill soak period at a temperature below the final annealing or hardening
gas during heating and holding. This is explained by Figure 58, which temperature to assure that the whole load uniformly reaches the
shows that a vacuum annealing or hardening cycle is made up of steps temperature before going to Step 5.
of varying pressures. Vacuum is used during the “hot” part of the cycle.
High pressure is used during cooling and increased pressure may also be →→ Step 4: At the end of the holding time, vacuum pumping is activated.
used on heating. Instead of a continuous supply of industrial gases as is This is to lower the atmosphere oxygen partial pressure and to
required for atmosphere pressure furnaces, the vacuum heat treatment efficiently remove all volatile species and dirt on the parts.
furnace requires a discontinuous supply of protective gas provided
almost instantaneously at elevated pressures and at significant flow →→ Step 5: The temperature is increased to the annealing or hardening
rates. temperature.
 48 Neutral hardening and annealing

Temperature [°F]

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

1e+06

Hg
Cd Zn
10000
As Mg
Pb
Ca Bi Ni
100 Co
Mn
Fe
Cr
Al Cu Ti V
1 Figure 59: Vapour
Pressure [Pa]

Pt pressure curves for

Zr metals as a function of
temperature calculated
0.01
by Thermo-Calc [6]. If the
pressure in the vacuum
Nb W furnace is below the
C Ta
0.0001
Mo vapour pressure curve for
Th
a certain element, that
element will vaporise.
Example for the vacuum/
1e–06 temperature combination
100 Pa/1000 °C (1832 °F)
indicated in the diagram:
Mn, Al, Cu, etc. are stable
1e–08
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 but Pb, Bi, Ca, etc. will
vaporise.
Temperature [°C]

→→ Step 6: Alloys containing metals that easily vaporise may require the 5.13.4 Dissociation and reduction of oxides
process to run not at high vacuum but at a certain elevated pressure. The metal oxides will decompose into their constituent elements when
The backfill gas, mostly nitrogen, is then added to maintain the heated to sufficiently high temperatures at a low enough vacuum level.
pressure at the desired level. The dissociation pressure is the same as the oxygen equilibrium partial
pressures over the metal oxide as was shown in Figure 29. Figure 60
→→ Step 7: By introducing inert gas into the furnace up to a certain shows the dissociation pressures for some additional alloying elements.
elevated pressure, a fast cooling to room temperature is achieved. As the metal and the oxygen in the metal oxide dissociate, the oxygen
Nitrogen from 1 to 6 bar (up to 90 psig) pressure is common. Furnaces recombines into gaseous form and is evacuated through the vacuum
for 10 bar and higher are used for even higher cooling capacities. pumping system.

Nitrogen, which is the cheapest and most common gas for purging, At an ultra-high vacuum of the order 10–5 Pa (10–7 mbar) there are still
backfilling and cooling, should not be used when there is a risk of about 1015 gas molecules per cubic metre. Consider a furnace originally
detrimental nitriding reactions with the alloy. filled with air. After pumping down to a vacuum of 10–5 Pa, assuming
that 21% of the molecules are oxygen as in air, the oxygen partial
5.13.3 Vapour pressure pressure, PO₂, will be about 10–11 atm. From a theoretical equilibrium
The vapour pressure of an element is the pressure where the solid point of view, this is an oxidising atmosphere for many metals at
and vapour are in equilibrium with each other. The vapour pressure of normal annealing and hardening temperatures according to Figure 61.
metals varies with temperature, as seen in Figure 59. Cadmium, zinc, If the furnace is purged with nitrogen before the vacuum pumping, the
magnesium, bismuth, manganese, and also chromium are elements resulting oxygen partial pressure is reduced to about 10–16 atm. This is
with high vapour pressures as seen from that diagram. Such elements still oxidising towards metals like chromium. Repeated nitrogen purging
vaporise more easily during vacuum heat treatment. Vaporising leads and vacuum pumping could reduce this further. That is, however, not the
to negative effects both because of loss of material from the alloy case in practice. How could vacuum heat treatment result in completely
and because vapours condense on cold parts in the furnace, causing bright parts? The major reason is that the oxygen concentration is in
problems for functionality and maintenance. Brass, which has zinc as the reality lower than predicted on the foregoing simplified assumptions
major alloying element, is an example of an alloy not suited for vacuum because the available oxygen is consumed. The graphite used for
heat treatment because the zinc would vaporise. The only way to avoid heating elements, charging bricks and the furnace chamber may
vaporising is to use a pressure above the vaporising pressure, although consume oxygen both by adhesion of oxygen molecules to the graphite
this is counteractive with respect to keeping the best vacuum for a good and by CO formation. Another reason why oxidation does not occur is
result. slow kinetics. Although chemical equilibrium considerations indicate
oxidising conditions, the rate of oxidation is very slow in vacuum.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 49

0
Cu2O
–10
NiO
–20
Cr2O3 MnO
Oxygen partial pressure [log (PO2)]

Carbon flux Heat flux

FeO
–30 Fe2O3
dm/dt=β×(Cgas–Csurf) Q=h×(Tgas – Tsurf)
ZnO SiO2
–40
β prop. CO×H₂ h prop. (Pressure)n×(Velocity)m

TiO T
–50 dm/dt=D×dc/dx Q=D ×dT/dx

Figure 61: Analogy between mass transfer and diffusion and heat transfer and
–60 diffusivity.
Al2O3

–70

–80
400 600 800 1000 1200 °C
752 1112 1472 1832 2192 °F
Temperature

Figure 60: Dissociation pressures (oxygen equilibrium partial pressures) for some
metal oxides [6].

Hydrogen has positive effects on reducing power for oxides and on 5.14 Heat transfer
the cooling rate when used as a cooling gas. A negative effect is that
hydrogen may react with the graphite used in heating elements and for 5.14.1 Convective heating and cooling
other parts inside the furnace. Heat transfer occurs by two major mechanisms: radiation and convection.
(Direct contact heat transfer occurs in cases like wire annealing in strand
5.13.5 Contaminants and leak testing tubular furnaces.) At high temperatures, radiation is the dominating
Oxygen, water and hydrocarbons are the most common contaminants mechanism and at low temperature convection predominates. In
in vacuum atmospheres. Oxygen can be introduced with air through the radiation regime, which corresponds to temperatures above
vacuum leaks or contaminated backfill gas or from dissociation of approximately 700 °C (1292 °F), the influence from the atmosphere on
surface oxides. Water is generally inadvertently introduced from the heat transfer is negligible. At low temperatures the heat transfer rate by
water-cooled heat exchange system. Water contamination often begins radiation is low.
as extremely small pinhole sized leaks that only open at elevated
temperatures, making locating these leaks nearly impossible before they Today vacuum furnaces are commonly equipped with a convection fan
begin causing considerable problems. Occasionally, water is introduced and made to work at a certain elevated pressure during heating up. In
with the parts either from incomplete drying after cleaning or attached this way the heating time can be shortened as compared to heating in
hygroscopically to the part surface or the furnace interior. Discolouration vacuum. The elevated pressure is maintained up to a temperature where
of vacuum heat-treated parts may also be caused by hydrocarbons the risk of oxidation becomes apparent and the radiation heat transfer
originating from residual lubricants on improperly cleaned parts, or, more reaches a substantial rate.
commonly, from pump oil that migrates backward (backstreams) into the
vacuum chamber. Vacuum furnaces should have all doors closed and be The principles for heat transfer by convection are analogous to those for
kept under vacuum to minimise moisture and air infiltration when not in mass transfer and diffusion as illustrated in Figure 61.
use.
Heat transfer from the metal surface to the atmosphere follows the
Leak testing should be done when required because of discoloration of equation
treated parts and as a regular quality control. Helium or the lower cost
alternative nitrogen/hydrogen mixtures are used for leak testing. The Q = h (Tgas – Tsurface)
principle used is that helium or nitrogen/hydrogen is sprayed around
sealings and couplings on the outside of the vacuum furnace and a He or where T is temperature and Q is energy flow per area and time unit,
H₂ sensor is placed at the vacuum pump outlet. and h is the heat transfer coefficient. The heat flux from surface to
atmosphere must be the same as the flux from the inside of the metal
part to the surface.
50 Neutral hardening and annealing

H2 He N2 Ar

Varying pressure at v = 20.0 m/s

3100

2500
h [W/m2 K]

1900

1300

700

0 1000
0 10 20 30
P [bar]

Heat transfer coefficient [W/m2K]

a 800
Varying velocity at p = 5.0 bar
3100

2500 600
h [W/m2 K]

1900

1300 400

700

0 200
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 200
v [m/s] Hydrogen content [%]
b
Figure 62: Theoretically calculated heat transfer coefficient for different gases in cross Figure 63: Average experimentally evaluated heat transfer coefficients for different
flow forced convection as a function of gas a) pressure and b) velocity. hydrogen/nitrogen blends at 10 bar [10].

The heat flux going into or out of the solid metal is described by the Hydrogen and helium have low density, high specific heat capacity,
equation and high thermal conductivity as compared to nitrogen and argon, see
Table 13. This gives helium and hydrogen much better heat transfer
Q = DT dT/dx properties than nitrogen and argon, as shown in Figure 62, which also
shows the effect of velocity and pressure.
where DT is the diffusivity and dt/dx is the temperature gradient.
Table 13. Physical properties of gases (15 °C, 1 bar)
Upon cooling, heat is transferred away from the hot metal surface by the
gas molecules. By increasing the number of gas molecules that hit the Properties: Argon Nitrogen Helium Hydrogen
metal surface, either by increasing the gas pressure or the gas velocity, Density
it will be possible to increase the heat transfer coefficient. Increased (kg/m³) 1.669 1.170 0.167 0.084
turbulence in the gas flow pattern also increases the heat transfer rate. Specific heat
The quantitative value of the heat transfer coefficient therefore depends capacity
not only on physical gas properties like density, viscosity and heat (J/kg×K) 523 1040 5190 14300
capacity, but also on geometrical dimensions like part diameter and part Thermal
distances, the type of flow direction being perpendicular or parallel to conductivity
the parts and, as mentioned, on the degree of turbulence. An expression (W/m×K) 0.0173 0.0255 0.1536 0.1750
for h is: Dynamic
viscosity
h = C · Vα · ρβ · νδ · (cp)μ · kφ/dλ (Ns/m²) 23×10–6 18×10–6 20×10–6 9×10–6

where When mixing a light gas such as hydrogen with a heavy gas such as
nitrogen, theory predicts a maximum heat transfer coefficient for a
V = upstream flow velocity (m/s) certain mixture of about 80% hydrogen/20% nitrogen. This is confirmed
ρ = density of the gas (kg/m³) by experiments as shown in Figure 63. The position of the maximum
ν = kinematic viscosity of the gas (Ns/m²) depends on the flow conditions. Increased turbulence shifts the
cp = specific heat capacity of the gas (kJ/kg/K) maximum towards lower hydrogen concentrations.
k = thermal conductivity of the gas (W/m/K)
d = geometrical unit (m), equal to the diameter in the case of a cylinder

and C, α, β, δ, μ, φ, and γ are all constants

 Neutral hardening and annealing 51

N2
140
He

150 °C
100
300 °C 0.8 800 °C (1472 °F) 600 °C (1112 °F)

radial thermal conductivity of coil

400 °C (752 °F) 200 °C (392 °F)
Power [kW]

thermal conductivity of steel

0 °C (32 °F)
0.6
60

0.4
150 °C
20
300 °C 0.2
0
0 2 6 10 14 18 22
0
Pressure [bar] 0 20 40 60 80 100
H2 in atmosphere [vol%]

Figure 64: Power demand of the fan motor in a vacuum furnace as a function of Figure 65: The relation between radial heat transfer and atmosphere hydrogen
cooling gas and gas pressure, at two gas temperatures [11]. concentration in a strip coil annealing case [13].

The use of low-density gases (hydrogen or helium) has the additional Temperature
720 °C (1329 °F)
benefit that furnace ventilator or fan power is reduced, as illustrated in °F °C 31 h 44 h
Figure 64. For a certain fan power, it means that the use of helium and 100% H2
hydrogen will result in higher gas velocities as compared to the use of 1472 800
720
nitrogen or argon. Also in atmosphere furnaces this is beneficial when 7% H2 + 93% N2
1112 600
changing from an atmosphere with nitrogen to 100% hydrogen. Bell
furnace annealing in 100% hydrogen is an example. 752 400

For single-chamber vacuum furnaces, it is important that the chamber is 392 200
quickly filled with gas up to the required pressure after the completed
heating cycle in order to allow cooling to start as fast as possible. The
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Time [h]
filling time is dependent on the type of gas. As shown in Table 14, the
filling time is reduced from approximately 13 seconds to only 4 seconds Figure 66: Example of time reduction during strip coil bell annealing when using
when changing the gas composition from 60% nitrogen/40% hydrogen hydrogen atmosphere instead of nitrogen with 7% hydrogen [12].
to 100% hydrogen for a specific installation.
The use of 100% hydrogen in bell furnace strip coil annealing reduces
Table 14. Filling time for various nitrogen/hydrogen mixtures from a both heating and cooling time as seen in Figure 66. In addition to the
buffer vessel at a pressure of 135 bar [9]. generally good heat transfer in hydrogen, an additional benefit is that
the small hydrogen molecules can penetrate between the strip wraps,
Gas composition Filling time [sec] thereby radically improving the radial heat transfer, as seen in Figure 66.
60% N₂, 40% H₂ 12.8 Wire coil annealing in 100% hydrogen results in annealing time
40% N₂, 60% H₂ 10.0 reductions, although not as great as for strip coils.
20% N₂, 80% H₂ 9.3
100% H₂ 4.0 The heating and especially the cooling time are also reduced when
using hydrogen in continuous annealing furnaces. By replacing a cracked
The improvement of gas quenching efficiency in vacuum furnaces is a ammonia atmosphere with 100% hydrogen, it is possible to increase the
development that has increased the use of vacuum furnaces to include throughput in continuous strip and wire annealing typically by 10–20%.
hardening of low-alloy steels. This has mainly been achieved with
nitrogen as cooling gas by increasing the pressure and improving the gas An alternative to using a homogenous gas flow for gas quenching
flow pattern. Helium and especially hydrogen still has the potential to is to use the CARBOJET Cooling technique suitable for installation in
improve the cooling rates further, making vacuum hardening even more continuous furnaces described in section 3.4.2. An example of the
widespread. improved cooling rate achieved is shown in Figure 67.
 52 Neutral hardening and annealing

80 200

60 150
Oil quenching

Cooling rate [°C/s]

Cooling time [s]

40 100
Gas quenching

20 50

0 0
900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0
Temperature [°C]

900
Figure 68: Two ways to present the difference in cooling behaviour in gas and oil.
800 The first is cooling rate as a function of temperature (blue curves). The second is
Average reference temperature as a function of time (grey curves). Quench oil temperature was 130 °C
700
Average CARBOJET Cooling (266 °F). Gas quenching was conducted at 20 bar in helium [15].
600
Temperature [°C]

500
400
300
200
100
0
Time

Figure 67: Temperature registrations in the cooling section of a roller hearth furnace
show a time saving of about 16% when using the CARBOJET Cooling equipment.

5.14.2 Comparison with oil quenching 10 bar N2

In oil quenching, there are three phases of cooling: vapour film cooling 10 bar He 20 bar He 40 bar He
at high temperature, boiling in an intermediate temperature range, and 900
convection at low temperature. The cooling rate is highest during boiling,
which occurs in the temperature regime of 600–700 °C (1112–1292 °F). Cylinder:
800
In gas quenching, heat transfer occurs only by convection. Therefore, the D=12.5 mm
heat transfer coefficient varies greatly during oil quenching but is fairly Inconel 600
700
constant during gas quenching. The result is that the cooling rate varies
more during oil quenching as illustrated in Figure 68.
600
Temperature [°C]

The average heat transfer coefficient for high-pressure gas quenching

500
with hydrogen or helium can be as high as for oil quenchants. However, Hot quenching oil
the fast cooling rates obtained in the boiling phase make oil quenching Quenchway 25
advantageous for hardening of low hardenability steels, because the 400
Fast quenching oil
cooling rate in the critical temperature regime is higher than for gas Bellini FS (70 °C)
quenching. This is illustrated in Figure 69. However, the non-uniform 300
cooling rate in oils is negative with respect to distortions.
200

100

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Cooling time [s]

Figure 69: Cooling curves for a cylindrical specimen cooled in oil and high-pressure
gas [14].
 Neutral hardening and annealing 53

Table 15. Atmosphere requirements related to alloy at typical annealing temperatures

Atmosphere requirements
Alloy Oxygen activity, PO₂, atm Carbon activity Nitrogen Hydrogen
activity* activity*
<10–22 10–22 –10–12 >10–12 0 0–0.5 >0.5 Zero Zero
Steels × × × × (×)
Tool steels × × × × (×)
Stainless steels × × (×)
Copper ×
Brass or bronze × ×
Aluminium ×
Nickel ×
Chromium × × ×
Titanium × × × (×)
Noble metals ×
* Note: Brackets indicate requirement in specific cases.

Table 16. Atmosphere properties

Composition Oxygen activity, PO₂, atm Carbon activity Nitrogen Hydrogen

activity activity
<10–22 10–22 –10–12 >10–12 0 0–0.5 >0.5 Zero Zero
N₂ × × ×
N₂/H₂ × × ×
N₂/CnHm × × ×
N₂/CO/H₂ × × × ×
Ar × × ×
Ar/H₂ × × ×
H₂ ×
He × × × ×

5.15 Selection of atmosphere 5.15.2 Review of chemical properties of atmospheres – step 2

The atmospheres from Table 8 may now be characterised in the same
A scheme for choosing an atmosphere system is illustrated by the way as the requirements of the alloy in Table 15. This is done in
Furnace-Alloy-Process triangle, shown in Figure 70. The choice may be Table 16.
made in steps, numbered in Figure 70, as follows: Process
3
1. Determine the required chemical properties of the atmosphere such as
oxygen activity and carbon potential with respect to alloy and process.
2. List available atmospheres from Table 4 with matching chemical
properties.
Atmosphere
3. Consider restrictions with regard to process temperature and heat
2
transfer requirements.
6
4. Consider restrictions with regard to furnace type. 1
5. Consider restrictions with regard to quality. 4 5
6. Make final choice. Furnace Alloy/Product

5.15.1 The alloy requirements of the atmosphere – step 1 Process

For both ferrous and nonferrous alloys, the most important requirement
is that oxidation must not occur. This requirement puts a certain limit
on the oxygen potential of the atmosphere. This limit is different for
metals and alloys, as explained in the foregoing text. For steels, there
is the additional requirement that decarburisation or carburisation must
Atmosphere
not occur. A certain value of the carbon potential of the atmosphere is
thus required (see Table 8). Sometimes nitrogen and hydrogen activity
must also be taken into account. These criteria are shown schematically
in Table 15. The background to the values given for the oxygen partial
Furnace Alloy/Product
pressure and carbon activity is given in sections 5.2–5.3.
Figure 70: The Furnace-Alloy-Process triangle.
54 Neutral hardening and annealing

The most reducing atmosphere (= lowest oxygen activity) is obtained Table 17. Possible atmosphere choices for different processes
in pure hydrogen (H₂). N₂/H₂ and Ar/H₂ mixtures with a high share of
H₂ (possibly combined with CnHm) also yield very reducing atmospheres. Process Alloy Linde designation
There is no reason to choose a more reducing atmosphere than is Hardening Medium carbon steels CARBOFLEX
needed. Nitrogen/hydrogen atmospheres with 1–10 vol% hydrogen High carbon steels CARBOFLEX
can produce excellent brightness on steels and copper. Pure nitrogen Tool steels CARBOFLEX
atmospheres will not yield bright surfaces but may be used if there is a Stainless steels Hydrogen, HYDROFLEX
need to provide protection from excessive oxidation and to slow down Annealing Low carbon steels Nitrogen, Hydrogen,
the decarburisation rate. CARBOFLEX,
HYDROFLEX
Carbon activity (or carbon potential) control precision is best for N₂/ Med. carbon steels CARBOFLEX
CO/H₂ atmospheres, thus nitrogen/methanol or nitrogen/endogas High carbon steels CARBOFLEX
atmospheres. Tool steels CARBOFLEX
Stainless steels Hydrogen, HYDROFLEX
Natural gas as a carbon source has the advantage of simplicity and Copper Nitrogen, HYDROFLEX,
low installation cost. The amount of natural gas must be kept below CARBOFLEX
approximately 5 vol% in order to avoid the risk of soot deposits. This Brass/bronze Hydrogen, HYDROFLEX
type of atmosphere has a low capacity to buffer disturbances from Aluminium Nitrogen
air because of the low concentration level of active and reducing gas. Nickel HYDROFLEX
The low buffering capacity must be compensated for with a high gas Chromium Hydrogen, HYDROFLEX
flow rate, typically 20–50% higher than with a CARBOFLEX nitrogen/ Titanium Hydrogen, HYDROFLEX
endogas or nitrogen/methanol system. These atmospheres are sensitive Noble metals HYDROFLEX
to disturbances from reactions with oxygen and the degree of carbon Vacuum heat Steels Nitrogen, Argon, Helium,
control is therefore very limited. To avoid the risk of sooting, the treatment Hydrogen
hydrocarbon should not be introduced until the temperature exceeds Titanium Argon, Helium
typically 400–500 °C (752–1292 °F). The reactivity of the hydrocarbon Ni-Cr alloys Argon, Helium,
increases in the order: natural gas (methane), propane and propylene. Hydrogen
Nitrogen/natural gas systems can replace exogas systems with equal or
better quality as the result. Adding hydrogen to a nitrogen/hydrocarbon 5.15.3 Restrictions with respect to temperature and
system increases the atmosphere buffering capacity. The gas flow rate heat transfer – step 3
can be decreased to pay off the extra cost for hydrogen. Flammable atmosphere constituents like methanol, hydrogen and
hydrocarbons must not be introduced if there is a possibility to
Decarburisation-free annealing may be conducted in very dry and form a flammable mixture with oxygen (air) below flammability
oxygen-free nitrogen or nitrogen/hydrogen atmospheres. temperature. Therefore, either the temperature must be above the
ignition temperatures or the oxygen concentration must be below the
Where nitrogen pick-up is detrimental, Ar/H₂ or H₂ atmospheres are flammability range. To ensure safety when using flammable gases, the
alternatives. Pure Ar or pure He atmospheres are alternatives to nitrogen temperature must be above the safety temperature of 750 °C (1382 °F),
in vacuum furnaces. or the flammable gas must be below 25% of the flammability range, or
the oxygen concentration must be below 0.5%. See section 6 on Safety.
By combining Tables 8, 15 and 16, it is now possible to briefly list
possible atmosphere systems for different processes and alloys as shown For quality reasons, hydrocarbons should not be introduced below a
in Table 17. certain temperature because of the risk of sooting. Methanol should
not be introduced below approximately 800 °C (1472 °F) for the same
reason.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 55

When fast convective heat transfer is a requirement, hydrogen (or Reducing power is important to give bright and clean surfaces as well
helium) is preferable to nitrogen or argon, see Table 13. as to minimise selective oxidation. High hydrogen concentrations are
favourable in this respect. Where there are very strong requirements for
5.15.4 Restrictions with regard to furnace – step 4 reducing power such as for stainless steels and some tool steels, N₂/CO/
The type of furnace (and related process) also puts restrictions on the H₂ atmospheres cannot be used; pure hydrogen or N₂/H₂ atmospheres
choice of atmosphere. The main criteria are: must be used instead.

1. existence of exhaust gas ignition, Quality requirements for freedom from decarburisation and oxidation
2. batch or continuous furnace, do not always coincide. Pure nitrogen atmospheres will sometimes give
3. loading into hot or cold furnace. less decarburisation than a slightly reducing HYDROFLEX atmosphere
containing hydrogen, even though the HYDROFLEX atmosphere may have
Depending on whether the atmosphere is ignited and burnt off or not lower oxygen potential. There are two reasons for this. The first reason
when exiting the furnace, flammable or non-flammable compositions is that the pure nitrogen atmosphere will produce a thin oxide on the
should be selected. For a continuous furnace, this requirement applies steel, which acts as a barrier for decarburisation. The second reason is
at the furnace exit and entrance. By using the zoning concept, it is that water vapour is much more active in decarburisation and the water
possible to have a non-flammable mixture at these locations, although a vapour content in the pure nitrogen atmosphere is lower than in the
flammable mixture is used in the high temperature zones of the furnace. low-hydrogen HYDROFLEX atmosphere. The risk of decarburisation is also
Continuous furnaces may operate with doors and batch type loading, related to the carbon content of the steel. High carbon content means a
for instance in the case of roller hearth annealing furnaces for wire higher risk than low carbon content.
or strip coils. Disturbance should be minimised by adequate gas flow
arrangements at the doors. 5.15.6 Make final choice – step 6
In the final choice, the technical features have to be analysed from an
The furnace atmosphere in a batch furnace is disturbed at each loading economic point of view. When making a cost calculation, it is not wise
or unloading when the furnace is exposed to air. High gas flow rate at just to compare gas prices cubic metre by cubic metre. Instead, the
these occasions will condition the atmosphere. The primary difference investment and running costs should be related to overall cost savings
between loading into hot or cold furnaces is the aspect of safety. in terms of quality, potential indirect savings in downstream operations,
A flammable gas can be used when loading is done into a furnace labour costs, costs for rework and scrap, throughput, energy costs,
operating above safety temperature, set to 750 °C (1382 °F). A cold improved environment protection, and so on. These savings should
furnace must not be supplied with flammable gas unless it is first purged be balanced against the total gas cost, for instance for a year. A price
with nitrogen down to an oxygen concentration below the safety limit. comparison of gas cubic metre by cubic metre will not take these effects
into account and can lead to a wrong decision. Consider for instance the
Of great importance is the degree of air leaking into the furnace. If, for example of copper strip coil annealing in section 5.12.11 The exogas
instance, the leakage rate is at zero, it may be possible to make carbon cost was less than the nitrogen cost per cubic metre. But the gas savings
neutral annealing with a low buffering atmosphere like nitrogen/natural were dramatic using nitrogen, almost 75%, which more than outweighs
gas. On the other hand, a high buffering atmosphere with high CO and H₂ the cubic metre price difference.
concentrations will be required if there is a high air leakage rate.
The selection of atmosphere and related control has an influence on
5.15.5 Restrictions with regard to quality – step 5 further processing such as blasting, pickling, grinding or turning. The
The quality requirements of the atmosphere increase as annealing elimination of a blasting or a pickling step is clearly a cost saving.
or hardening is conducted closer and closer to the final state for the Freedom from oxides and proper surface hardness also affects the wear
product. Annealing after hot rolling or forging may therefore require a of tools and the efficiency of grinding or turning operations. Reduced
lower-quality atmosphere than annealing after cold rolling. distortion after hardening and related reduced grinding costs are related
to atmosphere control, particularly when gas quenching is used. Fewer
rejects of products with improper quality with respect to surface finish or
decarburisation can also be quantified in economic terms.
56 Neutral hardening and annealing

5.16 Atmosphere systems for vacuum heat treatment

For hardening in vacuum furnaces, an important requirement for the gas
system is ability to fill the quench module up to the required pressure
in as short a time as possible. Figure 71 shows how this is fulfilled by
a buffer vessel installed as close as possible to the furnace in order to
minimise the filling time.

The filling time is reduced with increased buffer vessel pressure and
volume and with increased pipe diameter for the supply line to the
furnace. Shorter filling times are obtained with hydrogen or helium as
compared to nitrogen as was shown in Table 14.

Nitrogen is the predominantly used purge, backfill and cooling gas. Small
additions of hydrogen, up to about 5 vol%, are used to increase cooling
capacity and reduce power. Argon is used for materials that are sensitive
to nitrogen pick-up, like titanium and stainless steels.

Figure 71: Vacuum furnace with related argon high pressure surge tank, seen on the Hydrogen has outstanding cooling properties and is also a reducing gas.
right (Courtesy of Seco Warwick Corporation). However, 100% hydrogen is rarely used because of safety concerns.
There are only a few installations where safety arrangements are
assured. The following list of requirements set up by the regulating
authority had to be fulfilled in one installation [10]:
Different atmospheres can result in different throughput. The most • redundant installation of relevant safety valves
outstanding example is the dramatic cycle reduction obtained when • gas warning system in the workshop (hydrogen sensor)
using hydrogen in high-convection bell furnaces. The use of hydrogen • sufficient air circulation in the workshop
also results in increased throughput in a number of annealing processes • fan wheel made of non-spark-creating material
and furnaces because of the good thermal transfer properties of • fan motor must not be located in the circulating gas flow
hydrogen. Efficient flow rate and mixing control can minimise availability • fan must be able to work at two different speeds
and performance losses through for example shorter conditioning • lightning conductor
times at start-ups, after weekend idling periods or when changing the • electrical grounding of all devices used in the workshop
atmosphere composition. • error-free signal amplifier
• emergency cooling water circulation in the event of electricity failure
Atmospheres enabling good carbon control have either endogas • corrosion inhibitor in cooling water
or methanol as the carbon source. The endogas alternative has the • double sealing on the furnace door to indicate leakage
following advantages. Natural gas needed for endogas production is • only authority-approved flanges, welding seams and thread joints
often available. Existing piping from an old system can partly be used. • registration of the load changes in the furnace logbook
Methanol as a carbon source has the advantage that the endogas • no hydrogen usage if system error detected
generator is eliminated, as is related supervision and maintenance work. • automatic leakage test before filling with hydrogen
The disadvantages are environmental concerns and safety restrictions • purging of the exhaust tube with nitrogen before using it for
hydrogen
The value of a clean, bright surface, freedom from decarburisation, • hydrogen release out of the chamber only if temperature < 80 °C
freedom from nitrogen pick-up, accurate surface carbon concentration, • compliance with all appropriate authority regulations
and so on can justify a higher price for the annealed or hardened
product. Although the list of requirements is very demanding, it is believed
that the future will prove investing to fulfil the requirements to be
By using atmosphere control systems for on-line closed-loop atmosphere worthwhile. As already mentioned, the reasons are faster cooling
control and for supervision and process data logging, the required labour and reducing environment. As a result of the better cooling, vacuum
time can be reduced. The amount of labour needed for supervision hardening with high-pressure hydrogen cooling would open up
and maintenance is closely related to the technical complexity of possibilities to vacuum harden many more parts and steels including
the atmosphere system. HNX generators have the highest degree of low-alloy steels.
complexity and therefore also require the highest amount of labour
hours for maintenance and supervision. Next in complexity are exogas Helium has almost as good heat transfer properties as hydrogen and
generators and the least complex are endogas generators. The systems has the advantage of being a safe gas. A major disadvantage is the low
for direct supply into the furnace of the atmosphere constituents, availability and the fact that helium is a finite resource, which leads to
examples being nitrogen, methanol and natural gas, are the least labour- high prices and price volatility. Recycling has to be considered to lower
intensive with regard to maintenance and supervision. the cost.
Neutral hardening and annealing 57
58 Neutral hardening and annealing

6. Safety.

6.1 Safety awareness and He (helium), which are used in the low pressure processes, are not
covered here. For further information on these processes, the reader is
Safety is a key concern when working with industrial processes. referred to reference [2].
Therefore, any person working in the heat treatment industry should
be aware of the hazards from processes and equipment and apply Gas and methanol usage in atmospheric pressure processes is divided
appropriate safeguards to control the risk at an acceptable level. into:

In this section, The Linde Group wants to create awareness of potential 1) usage as carrier gas that includes N₂ (nitrogen) and CH₃OH (methanol)
safety hazards related to gas usage, its sources, and control options in and
heat treatment-related processes. Avoiding harm to people, society and 2) usage as enriching gas that includes hydrocarbons
the environment are important priorities for The Linde Group. This means
that we expect all of our people to behave and conduct themselves at
all times in a manner that safeguards the health, safety and security of 6.3 Potential safety hazards and their sources
people and protects the environment.
The main hazards related to the used gases and to methanol are:
Products and services provided by The Linde Group to customers
around the world are measured against high safety standards. But not • Explosions/flammability/fire
only the “end” product or service, but rather the whole value chain is • Toxicity and asphyxiation
taken into account when it comes to safety issues – starting from gas • Cold burn hazards
production and gas supply to gas usage as well as the installation and • Pressurised piping and the gas expansion hazard
commissioning of gas application technology.
Some additional hazards related to the use of cold liquid gas are:
Before we have a look at the whole value chain, we will focus on the
gases used, the potential safety hazards and the related control options. • Gas expansion risks
• Embrittlement of the material in contact with the cold liquid

6.2 Gases used in the process Some additional hazards related to the use of compressed gas are:

The gases and methanol used in the carburising and carbonitriding • Pressure increase from heating (fire)
processes cover both atmospheric pressure carburising and • Leakages
carbonitriding, as well as the low pressure processes. In this expert
edition, the description is limited to the atmospheric pressure Detailed information on these hazards is found in safety standards and
processes and therefore the gases C₂H₂ (acetylene), H₂ (hydrogen), regional and national safety regulations. Only hazards related to heat
 Neutral hardening and annealing 59

L Lower flammability limit in air

U Upper flammability limit in air
S Min O2 con. for flammability
C Start-up
B Shutdown
Oxygen concentration in gas mixture [vol%]

20
L
16
U
12

8 C
S
4

B
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Fuel concentration [vol%]

Figure 72: The flammability triangle.

treatment, carburising specifically, will be further elaborated in this The European safety standard EN 746-3 [16] gives a more definite
document. description of the flammability range:

Examples of hazards related to the use of heat treatment equipment are: “As a general rule, any gas mixture containing more than 5 volume
percent combustibles H₂+CO+CH₄ of which methane (CH₄) is not more
• Failure of energy supply than 1 volume percent where the remainder of the mixture is non-
• Failure of atmosphere gas supply flammable, is considered to be flammable. Any gas mixture that contains
• Flame failure control (burner(s) and pilot(s)) and consequently the more than 1 volume percent hydrocarbons (CnHm) or 2.5 volume percent
spillage/leakage of asphyxiating gases into the room ammonia (NH₃) where the remainder of the mixture is non-flammable is
• Failure/disorder of control systems also considered flammable. A flammable gas which contains 1 volume
• Pressure of flow control devices; low or high temperature detectors percent or less oxygen cannot itself form an explosive or flammable
• Mechanical hazards such as moving parts, cranes, loading and mixture.”
unloading equipment, robots, trucks and forklifts, charging doors,
rotating shafts, moving rolls or conveyors, hydraulic leaks, etc. The use of nitrogen to ensure safety during start-up and shutdown of
furnaces may be illustrated in relation to Figure 72. When starting from
Hazards related to equipment will not be further elaborated in this an air-filled furnace, corresponding to the top left corner of the diagram,
document. The focus in the following description is on hazards connected nitrogen is purged into the furnace until the oxygen concentration is
with the use of gas. lowered to point C. Fuel in the form of combustible gas is then added,
which means that the composition is changed along the line C–S–100%
6.3.1 Explosions/flammability/fire fuel. This avoids entering the flammability region L–S–U. When shutting
For ignition or explosion to occur, the following must be present: fuel, down, the furnace is first purged with nitrogen down to composition B
oxygen, ignition source (an exclusion here is acetylene which can before opening to air. Nitrogen is also used as a purging gas in alarm
violently decompose in the absence of oxygen). Flammability risk can be situations such as failure of electric power or if the furnace temperature
described in relation to the Safety Triangle shown in Figure 72. A triangle falls below the safety temperature.
of this kind can be devised at a specific temperature and for a specific
combustible gas in combination with oxygen. In the shaded area in the An explosion will occur if a flammable mixture of atmosphere gas and air
middle of this triangle, the gas mixture is flammable. This flammability has accumulated in a confined area and is suddenly ignited. This danger
region broadens as temperature decreases. exists if flammable gases are being used at a process temperature below
auto-ignition (750 °C (1382 °F)). The destructive power of the pressure
The flammable gases commonly found in these atmospheres are wave from an ignited flammable mixture depends on the amount of
hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, vaporised or dissociated gas and the heat of combustion of the fuel gas, the combustion mode,
methanol (dissociation produces hydrogen and carbon monoxide), and and the configuration of the confinement space. The energy released is
dissociated ammonia (forms hydrogen and nitrogen). absorbed by the surroundings and in the worst case destroys them.
60 Neutral hardening and annealing

Possible ignition sources are: There is only the operation alternatively called cryo-treatment or sub-
zero treatment at which liquid gases, in this case liquid nitrogen, are
• Surfaces with high temperature such as furnace inner walls, electric applied directly in an operation in the heat treatment workshop.
heating elements, and burners or burner tubes
• Sparks caused by friction or impact, for instance from fans or electric 6.3.4 Pressurised piping and the gas expansion hazard
insulators as well as non-spark-free tools The nitrogen supplied to the furnaces is under pressure. The gas supply
• Catalysers such as soot, sulfur-containing gases, finely dispersed should be locked out from the furnace and the pressure in the lines
metal particles, chemical reactions between oxygen and fuel gases, released in a controlled manner prior to performing maintenance on the
electrostatic charging, and local overheating by soot fire system. Failure to do so can lead to unexpected releases of energy or
• Pilot burners and other open burners, lit cigarettes or flame curtains introduction of nitrogen into the furnace. Furthermore, any pipe section
• Adiabatic heat from compression processes designed so that liquid can be trapped inside must be equipped with a
safety valve.
6.3.2 Toxicity and asphyxiation
Carbon monoxide is highly poisonous and a concentration as low as
400 ppm is harmful. Carbon monoxide enters the blood and takes the 6.4 Control of safety hazards
place of oxygen in haemoglobin. Carbon monoxide uptake by the body
is very fast, about 250 times faster than oxygen uptake, and even very 6.4.1 General safety regulations and guidelines
small CO concentrations can be dangerous. Carbon monoxide has no Parts of the international safety standard ISO 13577 [17], for example
odour, which makes the hazard more serious. Carbon monoxide has part 3 about “Generation and use of protective and reactive atmosphere
the same density as air and will therefore not disperse naturally. Heat gases”, are still under development. It has not yet been possible to come
treatment shops should therefore ensure that there is good ventilation in to a completely unified agreement between countries on the exact text
the work areas. of the ISO standard, but there are some specific pages describing special
requirements for Japan, the USA and the EU. The intention is that the
When the oxygen concentration in inhaled air is reduced from 21% to new ISO standard, when published, will replace regional or national
10%, there is a serious hazard of asphyxiation. Oxygen deficiency can be standards. However, the existing European and American standards
caused by any asphyxiating gas, the most common being nitrogen. An [16, 18] as well as other national standards will for some time still serve
example of this is when repair or inspection is required in a furnace that as guidelines.
has been filled with nitrogen. Whenever entering confined spaces, a risk
assessment needs to be carried out beforehand and a rescue plan needs 6.4.2 Explosions/flammability/fire
to be in place. Measures to prevent oxygen forming flammable and inherently explosive
mixtures with the furnace atmosphere are for instance:
6.3.3 Cold burn hazards
Direct contact with cryogenic liquefied gases such as liquid nitrogen or • Maintain a positive furnace pressure by proper gas flow to eliminate
cold nitrogen vapour will produce effects on the skin similar to burns. the ingress of air into the furnace
Cold burn will also occur when exposed or insufficiently protected parts • Vacate the furnace atmosphere from the furnace by controlled
of the body come into contact with un-insulated pipes or vessels. The combustion of the exit gas
skin will stick fast by virtue of the freezing of available moisture, and • Use good natural ventilation, especially when controlled combustion
the flesh will be torn on removal. The wearing of wet clothes should be of the exit gas cannot be ensured
avoided. • Use flame curtains and pilot burners at the exhaust when a
temperature below 750 °C (1382°F) does not automatically ignite a
Cold burns can be avoided by use of suitable protective clothing, flammable mixture
including leather gloves, boots (trousers should be worn outside the
boots), overalls and face shields or goggles as appropriate to the work
being carried out.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 61

When using flammable gas mixtures, it is required that the furnace 6.5 Safe use of gases along the value chain
temperature is above the ignition temperature. A safety temperature
with good safety margins is therefore used in industrial furnaces. In the Linde offers various gas supply solutions, which can be tailored to
European standard [16], the safety temperature is defined at 750 °C the customer’s requirements. As safety is a key concern for Linde, the
(1382 °F). The process temperature for carburising and carbonitriding highest safety standards apply to all gas supply services, the installation
lies above this safety temperature. In the case of a temperature drop due of delivery systems and the commissioning of application technology
to failure in energy supply or electric or burner heating, there must be equipment.
a control system that automatically closes the valves for flammable gas
and opens a valve for nitrogen supply. Starting with the gas supply to the customer, Linde takes care that every
gas supply mode fulfils high safety standards. If the customer requests
When operating heat treatment furnaces below the safety temperature, liquefied gas tank supply for instance, Linde takes the location, its
which is relevant at the inlet and outlet of continuous carburising foundations and floor surfaces, the gas tank itself and the gas supply
furnaces, precautions must be taken to ensure that explosive mixtures route into safety considerations.
are not created. A first precaution is to ensure that fuel concentrations
are outside the flammability area. This can be realised either by Regarding gas usage, in the case of oxygen for instance, the customer is
establishing a non-flammable composition all along the furnace or instructed in safe gas handling. A risk assessment helps to support the
by injecting nitrogen at inlets and outlets to lower the concentration customer in handling industrial gases safely.
of flammable gases. A further precaution is to avoid or minimise the
amount of oxygen in contact with the flammable constituents. Regarding the installation and commissioning of gas application
technologies, the customer can expect that a robust equipment safety
Any commercially fabricated industrial furnace must meet the industrial concept is in place. Furthermore, Linde’s experts can start with a full
codes of the company where it will be installed. A number of emergency review of the process landscape and a diagnosis of existing problems
safety functions should be integrated into the furnace and they should including safety risks regarding changes in the operating systems. A plan
in an emergency situation be able to automatically and safely shut down detailing how to overcome safety issues is created and implemented
the furnace. Typical situations would include furnace over-temperature together with the customer.
or loss of heating, loss of atmosphere, electric system failure, and flame
safety. The manufacturing plant should also train its employees on The installation and commissioning process includes, where applicable,
proper procedures for the unexpected or emergency situations that may careful process diagnostics and tailoring of gas consumption to ensure
arise. Hazard reviews and appropriate documentation are mandatory the correct furnace gas atmosphere and distribution. The maintenance
before starting the operation. Modifications to existing systems must be of safety-relevant components and a joint risk analysis and hazard
reviewed with respect to their impact on safety. review support this common goal. In addition, Linde experts can provide
training on all aspects of the installed solution so that plant personnel
can operate the system independently. Of course, Linde engineers can
be called on afterwards if the customer requires further assistance.
62 Neutral hardening and annealing

References.

Authors: Michael Graf, Torsten Holm, Sören Wiberg

1. ASM Handbook Vol 4, Heat Treating, 1997. ASM International,

Materials Park.
2. Totten, G. and Howes, M., 1997. Steel Heat Treatment Handbook.
Marcel Decker Inc., New York, p. 57.
3. Krauss, G., 1980. Principles of Heat Treatment of Steel. ASM,
Metals Park.
4. Linde Gas, CARBOJET™. High-speed gas injection for advanced heat
Treatment. Linde Gas Brochure. http://www.linde-gas.com/internet.
global.lindegas.global/en/images/CARBOJET.High-speed%20
gas%20injection17_117886.pdf
5. CARBOJET®. High-speed gas injection in a pit furnace. Linde Gas
Brochure. http://www.linde-gas.com/internet.global.lindegas.
global/en/images/CARBOJET.%20High-speed%20gas%20
injection%20in%20a%20pit%20furnace.17_171354.pdf
6. Thermo-Calc Software. http://www.thermocalc.se
7. Lundström, M. Personal Communication.
8. Skogsmo, J. and Nordänger, S., 1997. Hydrogen embrittlement.
IVF 97823, Gothenburg.
9. HPH Bell-type Annealing Furnace Installations, brochure, LOI.
10. Laumen, C. et al, 1997. Measured Heat Transfer Coefficients by Using
Hydrogen as Quenchant in Comparison with Helium and Nitrogen.
ASM Heat Treatment Conference, Indianapolis.
11. Preisser, F., 1989. Gas Wärme Int., Vol 38, p. 4218.
12. Enghofer, R. et al, May 1990. Industrial Heating, p. 16.
13. Pötke, W., Jeschar, R. and Kehse, G., 1988. Stahl u Eisen, Vol 108, p.
581 (in German).
14. Segerberg, S. and Pelz, O., 2004. Seminar AIS 23. “Gas cooling for
environmentally friendly hardening”, Södertälje.
15. Segerberg, S. Personal communication.
16. EN-746-3, 1997. Industrial thermoprocessing equipment – Part 3:
Safety requirements for the generation and use of atmosphere gases.
17. ISO 13577-3 Industrial furnaces and associated processing equipment
– Safety – Part 3: Generation and use of protective and reactive
atmosphere (in development).
18. NFPA 86C, Standard for Industrial Furnaces Using a Special Processing
Atmosphere. This standard is incorporated in and replaced by the
2003 edition of NFPA 86.
 Neutral hardening and annealing 63

Appendix 1. Equilibrium constants.

A chemical reaction between D, E, F and G may be written as

d·D+e·E=f·F+g·G

This reaction has a chemical equilibrium constant, K;

afF · agG
K = (a = activity)
adD · aeE
or for gaseous reactions

PfF · PgG
K=
PdD · PeE
P = partial pressure, atm.

If the atmospheric total pressure = 1 atm, P = vol% / 100.

For oxidation reactions of pure metals, the following is valid:

log K = –log PO ₂

The temperature dependence is tabulated below according to the relation

log K = A + B/T (T = temp, kelvin)

Free energy data is related to K accordingly:

– RT ln K = ΔG°

Reaction A B Standard state

Gaseous CO + H₂O → CO₂ + H₂ –1.613 1731
H₂ + 1/2 O₂ → H₂O –2.860 12874
2 NH₃ → N₂ + 3 H₂ 12.392 –5886
CO₂ → CO + 1/2 O₂ 4.501 –14720
Carburising CH₄ → C + 2H₂ 5.764 –4761 Graphite
2 CO → C + CO₂ –9.107 8861 Graphite
CO + H₂ → C + H₂O –7.494 7130 Graphite
Nitriding CO → C + 1/2 O₂ –4.606 –5859 Graphite
NH₃ → N + 3/2 H₂ 6.196 –2943 N₂ (g. atm)
1/2 N₂ →N 0 0 N₂ (g. atm)
Oxidation 4/3 Al + O₂ → 2/3 Al2O3 –11.46 58853
4 Cu + O₂ → 2 Cu2O –7.33 17704
2 Fe + O₂ → 2 FeO –6.78 27570
3/2 Fe + O₂ → 1/2 Fe3O4 –7.61 28166
4/3 Fe + O₂ → 2/3 Fe2O3 –8.62 28121
4/3 Cr + O₂ → 2/3 Cr₂O₃ –8.75 39260
2Ni + O₂ → 2 NiO –8.82 24530
2Zn + O₂ → 2 ZnO –10.44 36580
2Sn + O₂ → 2 SnO –9.99 29307
64 Neutral hardening and annealing

Appendix 2. Physical data for gases.

N₂ H₂ He Ar
λ 25 °C 0.02550 0.17495 0.15363 0.01785
R 297 4124 2079 208
ρ 25 °C , 100 kPa 1.13 0.0814 0.1614 1.603
η · 10⁶ 17.2 8.6 19.7 22.9
υ · 10⁶ 15.2 105.7 122.1 14.3
cp 1.04 · 10³ 14.26 · 10³ 5.19 · 10³ 0.52 · 10³
a · 10⁶ 21.7 150.7 183.4 21.06
Pr 0.701 0.701 0.666 0.679
25 °C = 77 °F

Thermal conductivity, W/m K λ

8314
Gas constant, J/kg K R=
M

P
Density ρ=
RT

Dynamic viscosity, Ns/m² η

η
Kinematic viscosity, m²/s υ=
ρ

Thermal capacity (”specific heat”), J/kg K cp

λ
Thermal diffusivity, m²/s a = c  ρ
p

υ
Prandtl’s number Pr = a

c · dh
Reynold’s number Re =
υ

α · dh
Nusselt’s number Nu =
λ

Thermal transmittance, W/m² K α

Characteristic dimension, m dh

Gas velocity, m/s C

 Neutral hardening and annealing 65

Appendix 3. Useful equations.

1. Relation between oxygen partial pressure and mV:

T = temp K, E = mV reading, PO₂ = partial oxygen pressure.

Log PO₂ = – 0.678 – E / 0.0496 · T

2. Relation between dew point and water vapour partial pressure:

Dp = Dew point °C
PH₂O = water vapour partial pressure.

Log PH₂O = – 2 310/(273 + Dp) + 6.243 for T > 0 °C

Log PH₂O = – 2 675/(273 + Dp) + 7.576 for T ≤ 0 °C

3. Relation between carbon concentration (= carbon potential) and carbon activity

ac = γ xc /(1 – 2xc )

where

γ = exp { [5115.9 + 8339.9 xc / (1 – xc) ] / T – 1.9096}.

T is the temperature in kelvin.

The conversion between the carbon potential Cp, which is equal to the carbon content by weight
percent in a binary Fe-C system, and the molar fraction xc , is carried out
according to the formula below:

Cp /12.01
xc =
Cp /12.01 + (100 – Cp)/55.85

4. The Gunnarsson formula

A simple expression calculating the relationship between carbon content in low-alloy steels, C,
and carbon potential, Cp , is:

Cp
log = 0.055 · (% Si) – 0.013 · (% Mn) – 0.040 · (% Cr) + 0.014 · (% Ni) – 0.013 · (% Mo)
C

The formula is valid only for low-alloy case hardening steels.

66 Neutral hardening and annealing

Appendix 4. Pressure unit conversions.

Pa (=1N/m2 ) Bar Torr Atm

2 –5 –3 –5
1 Pa (=1N/m ) 1 10 7.50 × 10 0.987 × 10
1 Bar 105 1 750 0.987
2
1 Torr 1.33 × 10 1.33 × 10–3 1 1.32 × 10
–3

1 Atm 1.01 × 105 1.013 760 1

Prefixes:
k = thousand = 103; Example: 1 kPa = 1 000 Pa
m = millionth = 10–6; Example: 1 mbar = 0.000001 bar
M = million =106; Example: 1 Mbar = 1 000 000 bar
Neutral hardening and annealing 67
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Phone +49 89 31001-0, [email protected], www.linde-gas.com
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