This thermochemical treatment hardens or alters the exterior of a metal part by packing it in a powder, often carbon-rich, and baking it at high temperatures. The added element diffuses into the crystal lattice of the base metal, creating a hard, wear-resistant outer layer while leaving the core tough and ductile. Historic steelmaking relied heavily on this method to convert wrought iron into blister steel.
Heard on the job
We need to run a cementation cycle on these low-carbon shafts to get the surface hardness up to spec before final grinding.