The ability to produce high quality and consistant carburised parts requires precise control of the carbursing atmosphere. The use of mass flow controllers (MFCs) is described as a means to regulate the furnace atmosphere composition as well as to improve quality of the heat treated parts by the use of a consistent atmosphere. Furthermore, the increasing productivity by the use of accelerated carburising (ACP) and MFCs is reported.

Proper specification, measurement, and control of annealing furnace atmospheres are critical to reduce sooting, oxidation, sticking, and distortion. This article describes how to effectively design and utilize a nitrogen-hydrogen annealing atmosphere.

Heat-treating industry is adopting more and more industry 4.0 techniques and solution packages, to improve production process and product quality. Proper specification, measurement, and control of heat-treating atmospheres are always critical to achieving the desired metallurgical and microstructural results. The combination of atmosphere measurements and other furnace operating parameters (e.g., furnace temperature and pressure) can provide a better view of the whole production. Thermodynamic calculations and field experiences can be integrated into the smart solution to provide process engineers more capabilities to manage and optimize production. In this article, our recent research and development work on smart solutions for the heat-treating industry will be presented and discussed.