AS 2028—1977

Australian Standard
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METHODS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF

DEPTH OF HARDENING
IN FLAME AND INDUCTION
HARDENED STEEL
PRODUCTS
 The following scientific, industrial and governmental organizations and departments
were officially represented on the committee entrusted with the preparation of this
standard:

Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia

Bureau of Steel Manufacturers of Australia
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
Department of Defence
Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries
Institute of Steel Service Centres of Australia
Metal Trades Industry Association of Australia
Railways of Australia Committee
Society of Automotive Engineers — Australasia
Telecom Australia
University of New South Wales (School of Metallurgy)
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The standard, prepared by Committee MT/8, Metallography, was approved by the

Metals Standards Board on behalf of the Council of the Standards Association of
Australia on 1 December 1976, and was published on 1 June 1977.

Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are subject
to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new edit ions as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest edit ion, and any
amendments thereto.
Full details of all Australi an Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards Australia
Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine ‘The Australian
Standard’, which subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publi cati ons, new editi ons
and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.
Suggesti ons for improvements to Australi an Standards, addressed to the head offi ce of Standards Australi a,
are welcomed. Noti fi cati on of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australian Standard should be made
without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This standard was issued in draft form for public review as DR 75153.
 AS 2028—1977

Australian Standard
This is a free 5 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

METHODS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF

DEPTH OF HARDENING
IN FLAME AND INDUCTION
HARDENED STEEL
PRODUCTS

First publi shed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1977

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 1204 0
 AS 2028—1977 2

PREFACE

This standard was prepared by the Association’s Committee on Metallography to

provide standard procedures for the measurement of the depth of hardened surface
layers.
The standard is one of a series relating to the use of micrographic and macrographic
procedures for the measurement of case depth and decarburization in steel products,
the others in the series being AS 1982, Methods for the Measurement of Case Depth
in Steels, and AS 2003, Methods for the Measurement of Decarburization in Carbon
and Low Alloy Steels.
This standard describes four methods for the measurement of the depth of hardened
surface layers. Each method should be considered on its own merits, and in terms of
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the time and equipment necessary for the determination.

However, the hardness test method is preferred for normal testing purposes, and when
a referee method is required the microhardness test method should be specified. The
macroscopic method is considered to be acceptable for routine testing purposes
provided that the depth of hardening is greater than 0.25 mm.
During preparation of the standard, the committee considered the International
Standards Organization publication ISO 3754, Steel — Determination of Effective
Depth of Hardening after Flame or Induction Hardening, and resolved to align this
standard in its essentials with the ISO standard as far as was practicable.
However, differences between the two standards still exist; in particular this standard
describes four procedures for the measurement of case depth while ISO 3754 describes
only one. The two standards also differ in the definition of effective case depth. ISO
relies on a specified hardness limit minus 100 at a specified depth (unless otherwise
agreed) whereas the Australian standard sets a lower limit of 400 HV which arises
from the history of accepted practice in Australia.
This standard may require reference to the following standards:
AS 1817 Method for Vickers Hardness Test
Part 1 — Testing of Metals
ASTM E384 Methods of Test for Microhardness of Materials.

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 3 AS 2028—1977

STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
METHODS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF DEPTH
OF HARDENING IN FLAME AND INDUCTION
HARDENED STEEL PRODUCTS

1 SCOPE. This standard describes four methods for the measurement of the depth
of hardening (case depth) in steel products that has been produced by flame or
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induction hardening processes, viz:

(a) the hardness method;

(b) the micrographic method;
(c) the macroscopic method;
(d) the microhardness method.

2 DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this standard the following definitions apply:

2.1 Case — a surface layer having a higher hardness than the core (such differences
arise from micrographic changes which occur as a result of heating, by flame or
induction methods, and quenching).

2.2 Core — that portion of the steel product which is unaffected by the case
hardening process.

2.3 Effective case depth — the distance measured along a line normal to the original
surface to the point where the hardness first equals a specified hardness value.

2.4 Total case depth — the distance measured along a line normal to the original
surface of a hardened case to a point where differences in physical properties of the
case and core cannot be distinguished.
NOTE: ‘Case depth’ is normall y taken to be the eff ecti ve case depth.

2.5 Test sample — a portion of material or a group of items selected from a batch
or consignment by a sampling procedure.

2.6 Test specimen — a portion of material or a single item taken from the test
sample for the purpose of applying a particular test.

2.7 Test piece — a prepared piece for testing, made from a test specimen by some
mechanical operation.

3 PRINCIPLE OF METHODS. The metallurgical changes which take place as a

result of heating of the surface layer and subsequent quenching enable hardness,
micrographic, and macroscopic methods to be used for the measurement of the depth
of hardening.
 This is a free preview. Purchase the entire publication at the link below:

AS 2028-1977, Methods for the measurement of

the depth of hardening in flame and induction
hardened steel products
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