carburize

American  

[kahr-buh-rahyz, -byuh-] / ˈkɑr bəˌraɪz, -byə- /

especially British, carburise

verb (used with object)

carburized, carburizing

1. to cause to unite with carbon.

2. to carburet.

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carburize British  

/ ˈkɑːbjʊˌraɪz, -bə- /

verb

1. another word for carbonize carbonize

2. (tr) to increase the carbon content of (the surface of a low-carbon steel) so that the surface can be hardened by heat treatment

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Other Word Forms

• carburization noun
• carburizer noun

Etymology

Origin of carburize

First recorded in 1880–90; carbur(et) + -ize

Example Sentences

Under primitive methods of making wrought-iron it is quite possible to carburize the iron sufficiently to make steel direct from ore.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius

Mixed with raw bone it will carburize more rapidly, and still more so if mixed with burnt bone.

From The Working of Steel Annealing, Heat Treating and Hardening of Carbon and Alloy Steel by Colvin, Fred H. (Fred Herbert)

The most satisfactory steel to carburize contains between 0.10 and 0.20 per cent carbon, less than 0.35 per cent manganese, less than 0.04 per cent phosphorus and sulphur, and low silicon.

From The Working of Steel Annealing, Heat Treating and Hardening of Carbon and Alloy Steel by Colvin, Fred H. (Fred Herbert)

Practically all printed information on the subject is to the effect that nickel steel takes longer to carburize than plain carbon steel.

From The Working of Steel Annealing, Heat Treating and Hardening of Carbon and Alloy Steel by Colvin, Fred H. (Fred Herbert)

The advantages in the hardening start with the carburizing operation, as a steel of uniform and fine grain size will carburize more uniformly, producing a more even hardness and less chances for soft spots.

From The Working of Steel Annealing, Heat Treating and Hardening of Carbon and Alloy Steel by Colvin, Fred H. (Fred Herbert)