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Industry Focus
Heat Treatment & Surface Finishing
Verify every batch. Case depth, hardness, decarburisation, coating life.
How QML Serves This Industry
Heat treatment and surface finishing shops need batch-by-batch verification that their processes deliver the required case depth, surface hardness, and core properties — and that surface coatings survive the service environment. QML provides fast, accurate metallurgical verification using calibrated Micro-Vickers, optical microscopy, and a dedicated salt spray chamber.
Testing Scope for Heat Treatment & Surface Finishing
Every testing requirement matched to what QML does and the applicable standard.
| Testing Requirement | What We Do | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Effective case depth after carburising (ECD) | Micro-Vickers HV0.3 traverse — depth to 550 HV limit reported to ±0.05 mm | ASTM E384 / ISO 2639 |
| Total case depth after nitriding (TCD) | Micro-Vickers traverse to base metal hardness — compound layer + diffusion zone | ASTM E384 |
| Surface & core hardness after through-hardening | Rockwell HRC at surface; Vickers cross-section traverse for uniformity | ASTM E18 / E92 / IS 1586 |
| Decarburisation depth | Free-ferrite zone depth and total affected depth at 100×–200× on etched section | ASTM E1077 |
| Microstructure post heat treatment | Tempered martensite, bainite, retained austenite % — phase verification at 200×–500× | ASTM E407 / Metallographic |
| Coating thickness on plated components | Cross-section metallography — plating / coating layer thickness measurement | ASTM B487 / ISO 1463 |
| Salt spray life of coated / plated components | Accelerated corrosion — hours to first rust, blister formation, adhesion loss | ASTM B117 / ISO 9227 |
Materials Handled
Carburised case-hardening steels (EN36, 16MnCr5, SCM415)
Nitrided alloy steels (EN41B, 31CrMoV9)
Through-hardened tool steels (H13, D2, EN31)
Induction-hardened shafts & gears
Zinc / nickel / chrome electroplated components
Phosphate-coated parts
Black-oxide treated components
Need testing for Heat Treatment & Surface Finishing?
Submit your enquiry and our team will confirm scope, turnaround, and pricing — usually within the same working day.