Why Heat Treat Only the Surface of Metals?

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Surface hardening of metals is often necessary to enhance durability and resistance to wear while maintaining a tough core. This process helps prevent surface cracks that could lead to structural failure over time. Additionally, surface hardening can improve the aesthetic appearance of the finished product. The technique is crucial in applications where the surface is subjected to high stress or friction. Understanding these benefits can aid in selecting appropriate heat treatment methods for specific metal applications.
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Why is it sometimes necessary to heat treat the surface and not the core? I.E. Why are surface hardening processes used? I tried to Google but to no avail. Thanks.
 
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influx said:
Why is it sometimes necessary to heat treat the surface and not the core? I.E. Why are surface hardening processes used? I tried to Google but to no avail. Thanks.

You need to improve your googling skills. This will help you tremendously in the future.

Surface hardening can be performed for a variety of reasons. It may be related to the appearance of the finished product, to prevent the formation of tiny cracks in the surface which could grow and eventually cause failure, etc.

Here is an article which your search should have turned up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_hardening
 
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