Abstract: An article and method for forming an article having a hard-finished surface including a predetermined density of carbides to improve pitting and wear resistance and to significantly increase the overall life of the article. This method comprises selecting a carburizing grade material to form an article, carburizing the article to form a microstructure on at least one portion of the article having a predetermined density of carbides dispersed in the microstructure to a predetermined depth, quenching the article to form a hardened matrix dispersed with carbides and hard finishing the article to form the surface, the surface having at least approximately 20% by volume fraction carbides dispersed in the hardened matrix.

Abstract: A process for selectively hardening a forged track chain link has the following steps. A forged track chain link having a pad portion, a rail portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, is provided. A quench tank is provided and adapted for spraying one or more of the track chain link portions with a quenchant at a controlled amount of quenchant flow rates, quenchant pressures and quench times. One or more of the track chain link portions are sprayed with the quenchant at a controlled amount of one or more of a plurality of quenchant flow rates, a plurality of quenchant pressures and a plurality of quench times. The pad and rail portions are simultaneously hardened to predetermined respective hardnesses.

Abstract: A method for producing steel alloy gears comprises the steps of providing a gear with a shape in which its tooth surfaces have excess material requiring subsequent removal; grinding the gear's tooth root and flank surfaces to a final finish shape; and subsequently performing a final heat treat to the ground gear to provide a hardened surface layer extending at least to a minimum depth required by the function of the gear. The grinding is advantageously accomplished by cubic boron nitride grinding. The final heat treat is controlled so that the hardened surface layer extends to a depth not substantially greater than the minimum depth required by the function of the gear. The final heat treat also relieves stresses caused by the preceding steps and also imposes beneficial stresses.