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, having components of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and water vapor in addition to minimum components of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen;
• utilizing a second treatment medium utilized for a carburizing process;
• and
• providing a processing chamber in the heating chamber of the industrial furnace for the recycling of protective 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 a reaction gas to carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and the reactions are to be accelerated by utilizing a catalyst at a catalyst bed, such that the protective gas then has a controlled C potential in the treatment chamber after said reactions;
• wherein the protective gas processed in this manner is then fed to the treatment chamber of the heating chamber in a re-circulating manner.