Abstract: A nitriding apparatus for manufacturing a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet is provided. The nitriding apparatus includes: a nitriding gas supply pipe for introducing gas including at least ammonia or nitrogen; and a nitriding treatment portion for successively performing high-temperature nitriding and low-temperature nitriding in nitriding treatment. The nitriding treatment portion includes a high-temperature treatment portion for performing the high-temperature nitriding and a low-temperature treatment portion for performing the low-temperature nitriding, and the nitriding gas supply pipe to the high-temperature treatment portion includes a cooling device.

Abstract: A heat treatment system includes heating chambers configured to perform heat treatment on objects to be treated, and a conveyance device configured to load each of the objects to be treated into the heating chambers, unload the object to be treated from the heating chambers, and convey the object to be treated under an oxygen-free atmosphere, wherein the conveyance device includes a cooling device configured to perform cooling treatment on the object to be treated.

Abstract: A carburization method for steel is contemplated, with austenitic stainless steel showing particular promise. The surface is first passivated with an acidic solution and then subjected to low temperature (between ˜350 to 550° C. or between ˜650 to 1,000° F.) carburization in the presence of a concentrated carbon solution (e.g., carbon monoxide, hydrogen gas, and nitrogen gas), followed by a repeated cycle of passivation and carburization under identical conditions but for a comparatively shorter period of time relative to the first cycle. The carburized surface is allowed to cool and cleaned, after which the resulting surface is shown to have ultrahigh tensile strength, increased interatomic bonding strength, and lowered electrical and thermal conductivity. To the extent this method can be employed to completely saturate and penetrate the workpiece (e.g., a foil), the resultant material and article are formed entirely from a novel composition.

Abstract: A micro-nano composite powder dedicated for laser repair of tiny crack on stainless steel surface, includes 3 wt %-7 wt % of nano-WC, 0.5 wt %-2 wt % of nano-Al2O3, 0.2 wt %-0.8 wt % of micro-V powder and the balance of micro stainless steel powder. The stainless steel powder includes 0.08 wt % of C, 0.5 wt % of Si, 1.46 wt % of Mn, 0.03 wt % of P, 0.005 wt % of S, 19 wt % of Cr, 9.5 wt % of Ni, 0.5 wt % of Mo and the balance of Fe. The micro and nano powders are mixed through ball milling and mixed with anhydrous ethanol. The composite powder is suitable for laser repair of tiny crack on the surface of stainless steel part with high toughness requirement. After laser repair, the composite powder can be fused with the substrate, the repaired layer and the substrate are metallurgically bonded at the interface, the repaired layer contains fine grains, and therefore the compatibility and fracture property of the repaired layer are improved.

Abstract: A ferrule and associated method characterized by an outer layer having a hardness; an intermediate layer below the outer layer, the intermediate layer having a hardness that is less than the hardness of the outer layer; and a core below the intermediate layer, the core having a hardness that is less than the hardness of the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A cleaning system and method uses a tank holding a fluid detergent and an equipment assembly formed from a plurality of discrete components joined together. One or more ultrasound transducers remove one or more deposits on the equipment assembly by generating and propagating high frequency ultrasound waves into the fluid detergent while the equipment assembly is in contact with the fluid detergent.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include electronically commutated (“EC”) motors, fans operated by such motors, cooling systems including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, an electronically commutated fan motor is included. The fan motor can include a housing comprising an exterior wall, a shaft, a shaft drive assembly rotatably coupled to the shaft, a power input connector, a control input connector, a switch comprising a base and an actuator accessible outside the housing, the actuator comprising a first actuator position and a second actuator position. The fan motor can also include a controller configured to control the shaft drive assembly based on a control signal from the control input connector, a power signal from the power input connector, and a switch signal from the switch. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: The invention provides a carburized part which has excellent medium-cycle fatigue strength in particular subjected to surface-hardening treatment by carburization. The invention provides a carburized part including a carburized layer formed by performing carburizing treatment to a steel, the steel including, in terms of % by mass: 0.15% to 0.25% of C, 0.15% or less of Si, 0.4% to 1.1% of Mn, 0.8% to 1.4% of Cr, 0.25% to 0.55% of Mo, 0.015% or less of P, and 0.035% or less of S, with the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and the steel satisfying the following relation; 0.10?[Mo]/(10[Si]+[Mn]+[Cr])?0.40, in which [M] represents a content of element M in terms of % by mass.

Abstract: Low temperature gas carburization of stainless steel using acetylene as the carburizing specie is carried out under soft vacuum conditions in the presence of hydrogen or other companion gas. Carburization is made to go faster by including HCl or other carbon-free, halogen-containing activating compound in the carburizing gas being fed to the carburization reactor.

Abstract: A method for nitriding of at least one component of an aftertreatment system is provided. The method includes passing heated gases through the at least one component of the aftertreatment system. The method also includes heating the at least one component, based on the passage of the heated gases. The method further includes dosing a reductant into the at least one component. The method includes forming a nitride layer on an inner surface of the at least one component, based on the passage of the heated gases and the dosing of the reductant. The method also includes controlling the formation of the nitride layer on the at least one component based on adjusting at least one of the passage of the heated gases or the dosing of the reductant.

Abstract: A method of producing metallic powder for use in the manufacture of a capacitor comprises the step of reducing a non-metallic compound to metal in contact with a molten salt. The salt comprises, for at least a portion of the process, a dopant element that acts as a sinter retardant in the metal. In preferred examples, the metallic powder is Ta or Nb powder produced by the reduction of a Ta or Nb oxide and the dopant is boron, nitrogen, or phosphorous.

Abstract: Low temperature carburization of stainless steel using acetylene as the carburizing specie is carried out under soft vacuum conditions in the presence of hydrogen or other companion gas. As a result, formation of soot and the undesirable thermal oxide film that normally occurs during low temperature carburization is eliminated virtually completely.

Abstract: A method for forming a profile having at least three consecutive concave surfaces in an internal surface of a metal part includes piercing the metal part to create at least three consecutive concave surfaces. First, second and third concave surfaces respectively have first, second and third radii of curvature. The second concave surface is between the first and third concave surfaces. The second radius of curvature is different from the first and third radii of curvature. The method includes carburizing the metal part, grinding the second concave surface, and linear broaching the first and third concave surfaces with an abrasive-covered broach. A method for forming a groove in a surface of a metal part includes broaching the surface to create a groove having a groove surface, carburizing the metal part, and broaching a portion of the groove surface with an abrasive-covered broach after carburizing the metal part.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a torque transmission mechanism between a starter motor and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, comprising a one-way clutch including an outer ring fast in rotation with the crankshaft via a front plate. This method comprises the following steps: a) forging the outer ring out of carburizing steel, b) carburizing the outer ring, c) tempering the outer ring, d) grinding an inner surface of the outer ring, e) manufacturing the front plate out of standard low equivalent carbon content steel, and f) assembling the front plate and the outer ring.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for adjusting the pore size of a porous metal material and the pore structure of a porous metal material. The method comprises: permeating at least one element into the surface of the pores of the material to generate a permeated layer on the surface of the pores, so that the average pore size of the porous material is reduced to within a certain range, thus obtaining a pore structure of the porous metal material having the pores distributed on the surface of the material and the permeated layer provided on the surface of the pores.

Abstract: A hand-held work implement having a tool has a braking device for the tool that includes a brake band which wraps around a brake drum. The brake band and the brake drum undergo friction as they move relative to one another during braking. At least one of the band or drum comprises an austenitic steel, a duplex steel, super duplex steel, a nickel-base alloy or a cobalt-base alloy and has a base body and a marginal layer. The hardness of the marginal layer is approximately 150% to approximately 600% of the hardness of the base body and the carbide proportion in the marginal layer is less than approximately 0.5% by weight. A process for production of the foregoing includes diffusing carbon and/or nitrogen into a marginal layer at a temperature of less than 500° C.

Abstract: A roller follower includes a roller ring, a shaft and a plurality of rollers. At least one of the roller ring, the shaft and the rollers is a steel member made of steel containing 0.7 to 2.4% carbon and 10.0 to 20.0% chromium, with remainder iron and impurities. In addition, carbide containing at least any one of iron and chromium as well as carbon and having an area of 12.6 ?m2 or greater is generated at an area ratio of 5.0% or higher, at a rolling contact surface of the steel member (a roller ring rolling contact surface, a shaft rolling contact surface and a roller rolling contact surface.

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: The present invention provides spring use heat treated steel which is cold coiled, can achieve both sufficient atmospheric strength and coilability, has a tensile strength of 2000 MPa or more, and can improve the performance as a spring by heat treatment after spring fabrication, that is, high strength spring-use heat treated steel characterized by containing, by mass %, C: 0.45 to 0.9%, Si: 1.7 to 3.0%, and Mn: 0.1 to 2.0%, restricting N: to 0.007% or less, having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, and satisfying, in terms of the analyzed value of the extracted residue after heat treatment, [amount of Fe in residue on 0.2 ?m filter/[steel electrolysis amount]×100?1.1.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gear by a skiving process, the skiving process utilizing a cutter including a rotational axis inclined to a rotational axis of a work to be processed into the gear, the skiving process feeding the cutter in a tooth trace direction of a tooth to be formed at the work in a state where the cutter rotates in synchronization with the work, the method includes a surface hardening process for hardening a work surface of the work before the skiving process is performed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a laminar ring, which permits an improvement of efficiency of a nitriding treatment of a plurality of metallic band members which constitute the laminar ring is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of gas carburizing a metallic article, where at least the surface region of the article consists of an alloy with a chromium content of at least 10 wt %. The carburizing is carried out by means of a gas containing carbon, which gas is heated to a temperature below approximately 5500C. The gas is an un-saturated hydrocarbon gas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a friction element (3) comprising the steps: providing a metal main body (10), hardening the main body (10) on at least part of its surface (11, 12) in a salt bath, wherein the salt bath hardening is the final method step, and no further processing of the hardened surface (11, 12) is performed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a friction element produced according to this method and a friction component comprising the latter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tubular elements, such as fuel assembly tubes, which are designed to be used in high pressure and high temperature water in nuclear reactors, such as pressurized water nuclear reactors. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of improving wear resistance and corrosion resistance by depositing a protective coating having a depth of from about 5 to about 25 ?m on the surface of the tubular elements. The coating is provided by nitriding the tubular element at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 440° C. The nitridation of the tubular element can be carried out for a duration of from about 12 hours to about 40 hours.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating an atmosphere for heat treating metal parts in a furnace, which includes inserting, in at least one phase of the treatment cycle or at least one area of the heat treatment furnace, a mixture comprising gaseous CO2 and ethanol in the form of fine droplets or vapor, so as to carry out the reaction between the CO2 and the ethanol inside the furnace to form a mixture of hydrogen and CO according to the reaction: CO2+C2H5OH?3 CO+3 H2, characterized in that the injection is performed in a phase of the treatment cycle or in an area of the heat treatment furnace in which the temperature is higher than 750° C., while CO2 alone or optionally mixed with nitrogen is injected in the phase or phases of the treatment cycle or in the area or areas of the furnace in which the temperature is lower than 750° C.

Abstract: Methods of making surface hardened medical implants comprising providing a biocompatible alloy with a surface comprising an oxide or nitride layer, diffusing at least a portion of the respective oxygen or nitrogen from the oxide or nitride layer the substrate for a period of time to form a diffusion hardened zone of desired thickness. The period of time is based at least on (1) the diffusivity of a diffusing specie in the oxide or nitride layer, (2) a desired hardness profile of at least a portion of said implant defined by a function selected from the group consisting of: an error function, an exponential function, a near uniform distribution function, and any sequential combination thereof, or (3) a desired thickness of said oxide or nitride layer to be retained.

Abstract: A method of processing steel includes carburizing a martensitic stainless steel work piece to produce a carburized case by utilizing in combination, (i) a composition of the martensitic stainless steel work piece, (ii) a preselected carbon concentration in the carburized case, and (iii) a preselected grain size of the martensitic stainless steel work piece such that the carburized case predominately forms carbides of composition M6C, M2C, M23C6 or combinations thereof. The martensitic stainless steel work piece is then heated to substantially solution the metal carbides. The work piece is then quenched at a cooling rate that is sufficient to avoid substantial precipitation of any carbides during cool down to the martensite start temperature, then given a low temperature temper. In so doing, the carburized case hardened martensitic stainless steel will have balanced mechanical, tribological and corrosion resistance properties for high performance bearing and gear components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a cathode for a lithium ion secondary battery by recycling an active material, and a lithium ion secondary battery including a cathode fabricated thereby. The method according to the present invention includes: carbonizing a binder existing in a cathode scrap of a lithium ion secondary battery by heat treating the cathode scrap of the lithium ion secondary battery; collecting a cathode active material from the cathode scrap of the lithium ion secondary battery; and forming a cathode for a lithium ion secondary battery without adding a conductive material to the collected cathode active material. According to the present invention, a lithium ion secondary battery which is environmentally friendly, economical, and capable of reducing manufacturing cost can be implemented.

Abstract: A method for making armor plate that is resistant to armor piercing small arms ammunition is provided. The armor plate includes a steel plate having a nominal chemical composition in weight percent of 0.4C-1.8Ni-0.8Cr-0.25Mo. The steel plate is carburized on one side and produces a carburized side and a non-carburized side. The carburized side of the steel plate has a carbon concentration of at least 0.9% by weight and the non-carburized side has a carbon concentration of between 0.38 and 0.45% by weight. After the steel plate has been carburized, it is subsequently thermally processed such that the carburized side has a hardness of at least 58 Rockwell Hardness C (HRC), and the non-carburized side has a hardness of between >=50 and <=55 HRC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an implant, in particular an intraluminal endoprosthesis, having a body containing metallic material, preferably iron. For controlling the degradation of the implant the method includes the following steps: (a) providing a first part of the implant body; and (b) performing heat treatment which alters the carbon content and/or the boron content and/or the nitrogen content in the structure of a near-surface boundary layer in the first part of the implant body in such a way that strain on the lattice or a lattice transformation, optionally following a subsequent mechanical load, is achieved in the near-surface boundary layer. Such an implant is also described.

Abstract: A vacuum carburization processing method includes a preparatory heating step of increasing the temperature of a workpiece in a heating chamber to a first temperature, a carburizing step of carburizing the workpiece by supplying carburizing gas into the heating chamber from a state where the pressure inside the heating chamber is reduced to an extremely low pressure, a diffusing step of terminating the supply of the carburizing gas and making carbon diffuse from a surface of the workpiece into its internal part, and a quenching step of abruptly cooling the temperature of the workpiece from a state where the temperature of the workpiece is at a second temperature; and also includes, between the diffusing step and the quenching step, a normalizing step of reducing the temperature of the workpiece so that the temperature history of the workpiece from the first temperature to a predetermined temperature satisfies predetermined conditions, a post-normalization maintaining step, performed after the normalizing step,

Abstract: A forged composite gear and a method of making a forged composite powder metal gear. The forged composite gear includes a plurality of teeth extending from a core, a first section having a first powder metal material, a second section having a second powder metal material and a variable boundary profile. The variable boundary profile is formed between the first section and the second section, whereby said variable boundary profile exhibits greater tooth wear resistance on the teeth and greater impact resistance in the core.

Abstract: A method for a surface treatment of a metal material, which comprises subjecting a metal material such as an Fe alloy, a Ni alloy and an Al alloy to a heat treatment in the presence of an amino-based resin such as a melamine-formaldehyde resin. The amino-based resin can be caused to be present with the metal material by a method wherein the resin is applied on the surface of the metal material, directly or via a solvent such as water, or wherein the amino-based resin is placed in a container, and the container and the metal material are placed in a heat treatment furnace. The above heat treatment allows a passivated film to disappear from the metal material. Further, a subsequent elevation of temperature and the supply a nitriding gas allows the performance of a nitriding treatment being several times more effective than a conventional treatment, and a subsequent supply of a carburizing agent allows the performance of a carburizing treatment.

Abstract: Provided according to embodiments of the invention are methods of manufacturing implant devices. In methods described herein, implant devices are exposed to a reactive gas that includes a reactive species, and optionally, an inert gas, at elevated temperatures, for a duration sufficient to generate a high density of nanoscale structures on the exposed surface of the device. Also provided are implant devices formed by methods described herein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for reduction of time in gas-carburizing process and cooling apparatus to perform carburization by step heating of a part during carburizing heating from 800° C., 850° C., 900° C. onwards to a carburization temperature of 930° C. with the part being held at each mentioned temperature for 10 minutes by adding LPG or propane along with methanol in the furnace for activation/diffusion, the holding time is thereby reduced for carburization, thereafter the carburized parts are quenched in the invented apparatus to discharge high severity of quenching. A quenching oil flow rate of about 1.6 meters per second is critical to the process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for protecting metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production, refinery and petrochemical process applications subject to solid particulate erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the metal surfaces in such applications with a hot erosion resistant cermet lining or insert, wherein the cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a ceramic phase, and b) a metal binder phase, wherein the cermet lining or insert has a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m1/2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet coating having a HEAT erosion resistance index of at least 5.0.

Abstract: A method and a device for the heat treatment of metal materials in an industrial furnace involves a heating chamber having a treatment chamber and a quenching chamber utilizing protective gas and reaction gas.

Abstract: A method for producing a torque transmission device such as a fixed constant velocity ball joint constructed as an opposed track joint in which the curvatures bases of the tracks of the joint deviate in their axial course from the curvatures of the ball contact lines. The method is characterized in that prior to the formation of a longitudinal profile of a joint component, the component is brought to an increased hardness by a hardening process and a diffusion layer is partially or completely removed in the region of the longitudinal profile.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an atmosphere heat treatment apparatus that is operable without relying on experiences and/or intuitions of an operator, and a method of operating the same. The atmosphere heat treatment apparatus includes an entrance side exhaust path (26) for exhausting an inside atmosphere from an entrance side of a carburizing chamber (10) to which a transforming gas is supplied, an exit side exhaust path (35) for exhausting the inside atmosphere from an exit side of the heat treatment chamber, and an opening degree adjusting lid (28) attached for adjusting an opening degree of the entrance side exhaust path (26), in which a part or whole of the exit side exhaust path (35) is constituted of a pipe (46) having a predetermined inside diameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for thermally treating workpieces, the device including a cooling chamber and two or more cementing chambers in which the workpieces are heated to a temperature of 950 to 1200° C. by means of direct heat radiation from a heating device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing tantalum carbide which can form tantalum carbide having a prescribed shape using a simple method, can form the tantalum carbide having a uniform thickness even when the tantalum carbide is coated on the surface of an article and is not peeled off by a thermal history, tantalum carbide obtained by the manufacturing method, wiring of tantalum carbide, and electrodes of tantalum carbide, where the tantalum carbide is formed on the surface of tantalum or a tantalum alloy by placing the tantalum or tantalum alloy in a vacuum heat treatment furnace, heat-treating the tantalum or tantalum alloy under a condition where a native oxide layer of Ta2O5 formed on the surface of tantalum or tantalum alloy is sublimated to remove the Ta2O5, introducing a carbon source into the vacuum heat treatment furnace, and then heat-treating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a friction element (3) comprising the steps: providing a metal main body (10), hardening the main body (10) on at least part of its surface (11, 12) in a salt bath, wherein the salt bath hardening is the final method step, and no further processing of the hardened surface (11, 12) is performed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a friction element produced according to this method and a friction component comprising the latter.

Abstract: A method of material treatment in which the surface of a metal substrate is converted to a composite structure of the metal and its nitride or carbide utilizing a high temperature chemically active thermal plasma stream, and the product obtained from that method. The complex thermal plasma contains controllable additions of active gas, liquid or solid substances. The surface layer obtained is functionally graded to the substrate resulting in an excellent bond that resists delamination and spalling, and provides a significant increase in hardness, wear and erosion resistance, and corrosion resistance, and a decrease in coefficient of friction.

Abstract: Oxide film formed on a spring-retaining flange by heat treatment gets unlikely to peel off, thereby improving wear resistance of a contact surface of the spring-retaining flange with a valve spring. The oxide film 15 of the part of the spring-retaining flange 3 with the valve spring 7 is at least partially removed to make thickness of the oxide film to 0.00 to 0.02 ?m.

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.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of making an improved composition and medical implant made therefrom. The methods generally comprise forming a ceramic layer, diffusion hardening, and optionally, forming another ceramic layer. The present disclosure provides methods of making an improved composition having a thick diffusion hardened zone and orthopedic implants comprising the improved composition.

Abstract: In a method for carbonitriding at least one metal part, the metal part is heated in a heating phase to a treatment temperature, is nitrided in at least one nitriding phase using a nitrogen donor gas, and is carburized in at least one carburizing phase using a carbon donor gas. The first nitriding phase begins after the termination of the heating phase and before the beginning of the first carburizing phase.

Abstract: A process by which a nickel-based superalloy substrate prone to deleterious reactions with an aluminum-rich coating can be stabilized by carburization. The process generally entails processing the surface of the substrate to be substantially free of oxides, heating the substrate in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a carburization temperature, and then contacting the surface of the substrate with a carburization gas mixture comprising a diluted low activity hydrocarbon gas while maintaining the substrate at the carburization temperature. While at the carburization temperature and contacted by the carburization gas, carbon atoms in the carburization gas dissociate therefrom, transfer onto the surface of the substrate, diffuse into the substrate, and react with refractory metals within the substrate to form refractory metal carbides within a carburized region beneath the surface of the substrate. The substrate is then cooled in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to terminate carbide formation.