Patent ID: 6902631
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: C22C,C23C

Abstract:
1. A method of hardening and tempering a steel component, the method comprising: (i) selecting a composition of the steel component consisting of: C 0.10-0.55; Si 0.97-2.03; Mn 1.14-1.83; Cr 0.00-1.65; Mo 0.36-0.58; and the balance Fe+ impurities; (ii) hot forming the steel component; (iii) soft forming the steel component thereby providing the component with a final shape; and (iv) heat treating the steel component with a heat treatment, wherein the heat treatment includes hardening the steel component by heating the steel component to a carburization temperature, holding the steel component at the carburization temperature for a period of time and cooling the steel component directly from the carburization temperature in at least one of: air; forced air; and cooling gases at a rate sufficiently high to form martensite in the steel component, and directly tempering the hardened steel component.