Abstract: A method of producing a case hardened workpiece of a Group IV metal including: placing a workpiece of a Group IV metal in a vessel, creating a low pressure environment in the vessel in which the pressure, pvac, is less than or equal to 10-5 bar, providing oxygen to the vessel to create a reactive atmosphere in the vessel, the reactive atmosphere comprising oxygen at a partial pressure, pO2, in the range of 10 5 bar to 0.01 bar, heating the workpiece to a hardening temperature in the range of 650° C. to 800° C. in the reactive atmosphere or before the reactive atmosphere is created, maintaining the workpiece in the reactive atmosphere at the hardening temperature for a reactive period of at least 5 hours, cooling the workpiece from the hardening temperature to ambient temperature in the reactive atmosphere or in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly component of an alloy based on iron, nickel and/or cobalt containing at least 10% (w/w) chromium, the assembly component having an annular shape with an inner surface and an outer surface and a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface in the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm, the alloy having a content of nitrogen in solid solution providing a microhardness in the range of 250 HV0.05 to 370 HV0.05 at a depth from the surface in the range of 0 ?m to 100 ?m. The invention also relates to an assembly with the assembly component.

Abstract: A method of producing a case hardened workpiece of a Group IV metal including: placing a workpiece of a Group IV metal in a vessel, creating a low pressure environment in the vessel in which the pressure, pvac, is less than or equal to 10 5 bar, providing oxygen to the vessel to create a reactive atmosphere in the vessel, the reactive atmosphere comprising oxygen at a partial pressure, pO2, in the range of 10 5 bar to 0.01 bar, heating the workpiece to a hardening temperature in the range of 650° C. to 800° C. in the reactive atmosphere or before the reactive atmosphere is created, maintaining the workpiece in the reactive atmosphere at the hardening temperature for a reactive period of at least 5 hours, cooling the workpiece from the hardening temperature to ambient temperature in the reactive atmosphere or in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly component of an alloy based on iron, nickel and/or cobalt containing at least 10% (w/w) chromium, the assembly component having an annular shape with an inner surface and an outer surface and a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface in the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm, the alloy having a content of nitrogen in solid solution providing a microhardness in the range of 250 HV0.05 to 370 HV0.05 at a depth from the surface in the range of 0 ?m to 100 ?m. The invention also relates to an assembly with the assembly component.

Abstract: A profiled element suitable for repeated deformation and relaxation, which profiled element is made from a case hardened stainless steel including at least 9% chromium and up to 6% nickel which profiled element has a material thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm and a nitrogen martensitic case with a case depth in the range of from 10 ?m to 50 ?m and a surface hardness of up to 750 HV0.05 and to a method of case hardening a workpiece made from a stainless steel including at least 9% chromium and up to 5% nickel, which workplace has a material thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm. The profiled element may be a fixing element for fixing a bearing element and a fastening element against each other, and the method is suited in the manufacture of the fixing element.

Abstract: A profiled element suitable for repeated deformation and relaxation, which profiled element is made from a case hardened stainless steel including at least 9% chromium and up to 6% nickel which profiled element has a material thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm and a nitrogen martensitic case with a case depth in the range of from 10 ?m to 50 ?m and a surface hardness of up to 750 HV0.05 and to a method of case hardening a workpiece made from a stainless steel including at least 9% chromium and up to 5% nickel, which workplace has a material thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm. The profiled element may be a fixing element for fixing a bearing element and a fastening element against each other, and the method is suited in the manufacture of the fixing element.

Abstract: A method of activating an article of passive ferrous or non-ferrous metal by heating at least one compound containing nitrogen and carbon, wherein the article is treated with gaseous species derived from the compound. The activated article can be subsequently carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized in shorter time at lower temperature and resulting superior mechanical properties compared with non-activated articles and even articles of stainless steel, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy or titanium based material can be carburized, nitrided or nitrocarburized.

Abstract: A method of activating an article of passive ferrous or non-ferrous metal by heating at least one compound containing nitrogen and carbon, wherein the article is treated with gaseous species derived from the compound. The activated article can be subsequently carburised, nitrided or nitrocarburised in shorter time at lower temperature and resulting superior mechanical properties compared with non-activated articles and even articles of stainless steel, nickel alloy, cobalt alloy or titanium based material can be carburised, nitrided or nitrocarburised.