Method and Device for Thermal Treatment of Metallic Materials

A method for the heat treatment of metal materials in an industrial furnace having a heating chamber having a treatment chamber and a quenching chamber, the method comprising:

• utilizing a first treatment medium, such as inert gas, which also has the components carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor in addition to the minimum components carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen;
• utilizing a second treatment medium, such as reaction gas, which can be utilized for a carburizing process;
• and
• providing a processing chamber in the heating chamber of the industrial furnace for the recycling of inert gas, the processing chamber being structurally or functionally associated with the treatment chamber, wherein the components carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor catalytically react with fed hydrocarbon as the reaction gas to carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and the reactions are to be accelerated by means of utilizing a catalyst at a catalyst bed, such that the inert gas then has a controlled C potential in the treatment chamber after said reactions;
• wherein the inert gas processed in this manner is then fed to the treatment chamber of the heating chamber in a re-circulating manner.