rtensitic surface and a ferritic-pearlitic core. Case hardening may also lead to core cracking. Hardening is usually accompanied by distortion of a workpiece. The degree of distortion depends on the magnitude of the residual stresses. Hardening procedures that minimize transient and residual stresses are beneficial as well as the use of fixtures. Distortion can also occur during tempering or annealing due to release of residual stresses or phase transformations during tempering....
