Jet hardening is a surface hardening technique whereby steel is cooled quickly with a high-velocity jet of water or air immediately after heating. The fast quenching process enables the surface to become hard while the core still retains toughness.

Key Features:

• Process: The steel is heated to its austenitizing temperature and blasted with a stream of water or air to cool the surface quickly.
• Efficiency: There is a hard outer shell with increased resistance to wear, while the inner core maintains ductility and impact resistance.
• Application: Components like gears, shafts, and tools are often in crucial need of a hard surface with a tough core.

Jet hardening is a repeatable and effective way to enhance the basic strength of a surface without compromising the flexibility of the material, which also reduces the potential for distortion vs. performing a full quench and allows for construction of complex, thin-walled parts or localized hardening. Jet hardening also improves wear resistance and fatigue life. This potential provides a hard-wearing, lasting, and reliable metal component.