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MM: Fachverband Metall- und Materialphysik

MM 23: Poster session

MM 23.21: Poster

Dienstag, 26. Februar 2008, 14:45–18:00, Poster B

The SKF Windows Expert Simulation Software SimCarb 2006 for Carburizing Case Hardening of Steels: a High-Performance CAE Tool for Industrial Process Optimization — •Jürgen Gegner — SKF GmbH, Department of Material Physics, Ernst-Sachs-Str. 5, D-97424 Schweinfurt, Germany

Although case hardening of steels has been technically applied for more than one century, regular variance comparison tests of state-of-the-art operations based on two-step boost-diffuse gas carburizing treatments for determining the accuracy level of process control show that the target parameters are not met reliably. Whereas, for instance, the carburization depth should lie within 0.1 mm around its desired value, in practice a three times higher discrepancy represents a good heat treatment result. Inadequate computer control of the process is caused by its high complexity. Critical quantities are, e.g., the composition-dependent diffusivity and the concentration-activity relationship of carbon in the specific steel. The prerequisite for successful process optimization is a powerful simulation tool. Fundamentals, menu-driven handling, and application of the SimCarb software are presented. Fick's law of diffusion is solved by an implicit FD scheme under real boundary conditions. Material properties are selectable from large reference lists or freely defined by the user. In- and output are visualized online on the screen. Simulations can be saved in a special format. ASCII data export is supported. By advanced analysis, strategy development, feasibility study, and realistic prediction, SimCarb 2006 allows for efficient quality, sustainability and profitability improvement of case hardening.