Both bone and leather charcoal give off more carburizing gases than wood charcoal, and although the high sulphur content of the leather is objectionable as being injurious to the steel, as also is the high phosphorus content of the bone charcoal, they are both preferable to the wood charcoal.
By mixing bone charcoal with barium carbonate in the proportions of 60 per cent of the former to 40 per cent of the latter a very reliable compound is obtained.
The temperature to which this compound is subjected causes the liberation of carbon monoxide when in contact with hot charcoal.
Many more elaborate explanations may be given of the actions and reactions taking place, but the above is a satisfactory guide to indicate that it is not the actual compound which causes carburization, but the gases released from the compound.
Until the temperature of the muffle reaches about 1,300°F. carburization does not take place to any useful extent, and consequently it is advisable to avoid the use of any compound from which the carburizing gases are liberated much before that temperature is reached. In the case of steel containing nickel slightly higher temperatures may be used and are really necessary if the same rate of carbon penetration is to be obtained, as the presence of nickel resists the penetration.
At higher temperatures the rate of penetration is higher, but not exactly in proportion to the temperature, and the rate is also influenced by the nature of the material and the efficiency of the compound employed.
The so-called saturation point of mild steel is reached when the case contains 0.90 per cent of carbon, but this amount is frequently exceeded. Should it be required to ascertain the amount of carbon in a sample at varying depths below the skin this can be done by turning off a small amount after carburizing and analyzing the turnings. This can be repeated several times, and it will probably be found that the proportion of carbon decreases as the test piece is reduced in diameter unless decarburization has taken place.
FIG. 42.—Chart showing penetration of carbon.
The chart, Fig. 42, is also a good guide.