Cleaning of components and tools before and after heat treatment

Residues in the form of particles, coatings or deposits on the surfaces of components and tools may significantly inhibit diffusion during thermochemical treatments in gas atmospheres and thus jeopardize the success of the heat treatment. Accordingly, cleaning following heat treatment and, even more so, cleaning prior to heat treatment play a very decisive role. Practical experience has shown that it is necessary to adapt the cleaning operation to the workpiece and the heat treatment process. In this case preference should be given to spraying or plunge spraying systems. The workpieces to be cleaned should be well within the reach of the sprayer jet. Before nitriding or nitrocarburizing high-alloy steel workpieces it may be necessary to remove oxide layers by pickling.