Method and device for heat treatment of metal workpieces as well as a heat-treated workpiece

Abstract

A process for heat treating metal workpieces contains with respect to an efficient process control the following successive operations following directly one after the other: a heating phase; an enrichment phase; a first cooling phase; a boriding phase; a second cooling phase; and a concluding quenching phase. Workpieces processed by a method of this type are distinguished by a comparatively great fatigue limit and fatigue strength with simultaneous high resistance to wear and tear.

1 . Device for heat treating metal workpieces, the device comprising: at least one treatment chamber in which a heating phase, an enrichment phase, a first cooling phase, a boriding phase, a second cooling phase and a quenching phase are conducted one after the other.  
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein two treatment chambers, wherein the heating phase, the enrichment phase, the first cooling phase, the boriding phase and the second cooling phase are implemented in the first treatment chamber and wherein the quenching phase is implemented in the second treatment chamber.  
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein three treatment chambers, wherein the heating phase, and the enrichment phase are implemented in the first treatment chamber, wherein the first cooling phase, the boriding phase and the second cooling phase are implemented in the second treatment chamber, and wherein the quenching phase are implemented in the third treatment chamber.  
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 1 , wherein four treatment chambers arranged in series or parallel, wherein the heating phase is conducted in the first treatment chamber, wherein the enrichment phase or the enrichment phase and the first cooling phase are implemented in the second chamber, wherein the first cooling phase, the boriding phase and the second cooling phase or the boriding phase and the second cooling phase are implemented in the third treatment chamber, and wherein the quenching phase is implemented in the fourth treatment chamber.