Low-temperature stainless steel carburization method

Abstract

A low-temperature stainless steel carburization method comprises steps: providing a stainless steel material; placing the stainless steel material in a halogen-free reducing environment and maintaining the stainless steel at a first temperature ranging 1,050 to 1,400° C.; and placing the stainless steel material in a carbon-bearing atmosphere and maintaining the stainless steel material at a second temperature lower than 600° C. to implant carbon atoms into the stainless steel material to form a carburized layer on the surface of the stainless steel material. A halide-bearing gas or solution is not to be applied to activate the passivation layer, so the fabrication cost would be reduced and the safety of carburization process would be enhanced. Besides, the environment can be prevented from halide pollution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.