From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Laboratory report on the unexpected results of case hardening tests on austenitic steel cylinder liners.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 154a\1\ scan0245 | |
| Date | 9th February 1932 | |
| X1474. To Dr. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} HLl/AG.9.2.32. Laboratory. RE - AUSTENITIC STEEL CYLINDER LINERS. As you are aware a batch of austenitic steel cylinder liners were recently subjected to the action of ammonia gas for 90 hours at 560°C in the hardening shop furnace. It was found that no case hardening took place to any appreciable extent. This was an unexpected result. We took two test pieces from a liner which had given a negative result. One was copper plated, and the other left as received. Both were nitrided in the laboratory for 6 hours at 520°C. to 530°C. As a result both specimens were case hardened. The case was brittle and readily spelched. Its thinness, probably due to the short time of treatment, and its brittleness prevented us from making any accurate measurements of its depth. The point we wish to emphasize is that a case is obtainable (about 0.002"). The reason for carrying out the test at 520°C. was the fact that our furnace could not be heated to a higher temperature. We are trying to alter our furnace in order to attain 560°C. From our previous experience of nitriding we would expect a deeper case to be obtained; however, we will carry out further investigations. Hl. HC Stamp: RECEIVED 1932 FEB 12 | ||