Effective vs. Total Case Depth

Case hardening is a critical thermal process that results in hard, wear-resistant part surfaces while maintaining soft, ductile cores. In order to measure different aspects of case hardening, two measurements are evaluated: total and effective case depth. While effective case depth and total case depth are very similar, they are used in different instances. In this installment of Metallurgy Minute, Metallurgist Derek Denlinger explains in detail how Effective Case Depth and Total Case Depth differ and what Paulo can do to help you on your next project.