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Home > Services > SAT12 Surface Hardening Service > About SAT12
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About the Swagelok SAT12® Service
Innovation
A commitment to materials science research, equipment, and personnel has helped set Swagelok Company apart and has led to an exciting breakthrough: the Swagelok SAT12 service. Today, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swagelok Company, Swagelok Technology Services Company (STSC) has been created to bring the benefits of the Swagelok SAT12 service to market.
The Technology
The Swagelok SAT12 patented surface hardening process diffuses an unexpected ~10% carbon atoms into the austenitic, or face-centered cubic (FCC), crystal structure of the stainless steel. The process actually enables unit cells to draw in carbon atoms to increase surface hardness – without forming chromium-rich carbides that would compromise the benefits of the SAT12 process.
The Benefits
- Increased surface hardness, while retaining significant ductility
- Improved wear resistance
- Improved fatigue resistance
- Improved corrosion resistance in certain media, such as saltwater
- No distortion or change of shape
Awards
The SAT12 process was awarded the prestigious Engineering Materials Achievement Award by ASM International, and the R&D 100 Award.
The Service
The SAT12 service is customized to meet your individual needs. A six-step approach helps ensure that SAT12 is the right choice for you. From your initial consultation to the testing and validation of treated parts, we take great care in choosing the process to best meet your needs.
Learn more about our multi-step approach. 
We’ve treated hundreds of millions of ferrules used in our flagship product, the Swagelok® tube fitting. We’ve witnessed the remarkable advantages this service has provided in many other applications as well, but we also know that the treatment process is highly application specific.
How Does it Work?
First, the stainless steel is placed in an atmosphere of carbon-assisted gaseous HCl, which removes the passive oxide layer. Next, the stainless steel is heated in a mixture of gases containing carbon at a low temperature – never above 538°C (1000°F). Carburization begins to occur at a temperature high enough to promote carbon atom diffusion but low enough to prevent carbide formation. At the end of the process, the amount of carbon in the interstices of the alloy crystals has been elevated; in fact, carbon levels may be as much as 80,000 times higher than the concentration that thermodynamics and kinetics suggest would be possible.
More Information About SAT12
Read about the technology behind the SAT12 service.
Learn how the SAT12 service enhances the performance characteristics of stainless steel.
Download the SAT12 Service Brochure.
Request information about using the SAT12 process with your specific project. |
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