Is Decarburization Bad?

Decarburization refers to the loss of carbon in the surface of steel during heat treating. While often viewed as a negative side effect of improper carbon control in the atmosphere during heat treatment, decarburization is sometimes done intentionally to achieve certain properties in some types of parts. Want to find out more? Check out this month’s Metallurgy Minute with metallurgist Rob Simons for his deep dive into when—and how—decarburization impacts part life and fatigue strength.