IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCES OF IRON POWDERS CARBURIZING PROCESS IN A METHANE-BEARING ATMOSPHERE

Considering the advantages of steel surface hardening, when less expensive low-and medium-carbon steels can be surface hardened without the problems of distortion and cracking associated with the through hardening of thick sections, we developed some research entailing the increase in environmental performance of iron powders carburizing process using methane as carrier.Apart of studies on optimal working parameters and methods, our research addresses improvements in environmental performance of process by selecting powders suppliers, reducing raw materials and energy consumptions, considering products life cycle analysis.A comparison is also performed among the characteristics of three series of research for obtaining ecological steels for automotive industry.