Published Online:November 2025
Product Name:The IUP Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Product Type:Article
Product Code:IJME021125
DOI:10.71329/IUPJMECH/2025.18.4.24-42
Author Name:Akshay G Tajane, Vishal N Sulakhe and Sneha Shirke
Availability:YES
Subject/Domain:Engineering
Download Format:PDF
Pages:24-42
A surface heat treatment technique, known as induction hardening, improves hardness, resists wear and increases endurance of metallic parts, while retaining a tough core. This paper focuses on the design and development of a small, portable induction hardening unit and examines its influence on the mechanical properties of G18NiMoCr3-6 cast steel. The experimental setup consists of high-frequency power supply, copper induction coil, timer control, and water-cooling mechanism. The process includes heating the surface of the metal using a high-frequency alternating magnetic field, followed by rapid quenching to produce a martensitic structure. To analyze the influence of key parameters, case depth and surface hardness are varied. The key parameters are input voltage, cooling water flow rate and workpiece movement speed. Penetration depth and hardened layer uniformity are improved by slower movement speeds and enhanced optimal cooling. The investigation concludes that induction hardening is a highly efficient, precise and eco-friendly process, capable of delivering superior surface hardness with minimal distortion. Its selective heating ability and energy efficiency make it particularly suitable for automotive and industrial applications requiring durable and high-performance components.
Hardening is a metallurgical metalworking process, used to increase the hardness of a metal.