Abstract
Surface hardening treatments, such as using the high-frequency induction hardening method, are widely used to increase the fatigue life and prevent the failure of materials by locally increasing the surface hardness. This method, in particular, brings an improvement in static strength by compressive residual surface stress due to the hardening. In this study, the mechanical properties of high-frequency induction hardened SCM440 steel were investigated. These results were also compared with those for base metal and a Q/T (tempering after quenching) treatment specimen. The test results showed that partially high-frequency induction hardened SCM440 steel specimens were more improved in static strength, surface hardness, fatigue limit, and anti-wear than the base metal and Q/T treatment specimens. In particular, the fatigue limit of the high-frequency induction hardened SCM440 steel increased by more than about 52% compared to that of base metal and by about 25% compared to that of the Q/T specimen.