Harveyizing is an early method of case hardening massive steel plates, primarily for naval armor. The process involves packing the face of a low-carbon steel plate with carbonaceous material and baking it in a furnace at high temperatures for up to two weeks. The plate is then water-quenched to create a glass-hard face that shatters incoming projectiles.
The shipyard specifications require us to harveyize the protective deck plates before installation.
Also heard as
- Harvey process
Related terms
Carburizing
Diffusing carbon into the surface of low-carbon steel at high heat, then quenching for a hard case.
Kruppize
An historic method for face-hardening alloy steel armor using gaseous hydrocarbons instead of solid carbon.
Case harden
To harden the outer surface of a metal part while leaving the interior tough and ductile.