Patent ID: 7115174

Claim:
A method for producing an oxide layer on metal parts, the metal parts are heat-treated in a treatment chamber during a carburization phase at temperatures below 1100° C. [2012° F.] in an atmosphere containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen and then, during an oxidation phase, they are oxidized at an oxidation temperature in a range from 750° C. to 950° C. [1382° F. to 1742° F.] in an atmosphere where a PH 2 O-to-PH 2 ratio between 0.3 and 10 has been established by feeding an oxidant into the treatment chamber, a process in which an oxide layer is formed, whereby the oxygen partial pressure is determined by means of an oxygen probe and regulated at least during the oxidation phase, the oxygen partial pressure is regulated in such a way that the oxygen probe indicates a probe voltage in the range from 890 mV to 940 mV, a first constant partial amount of the oxidant and a second partial amount of the oxidant being fed into the treatment chamber, whereby the second partial amount is fed in a regulated manner and as a function of the probe voltage.