This article presents the fundamentals of induction hardening (IH). It focuses on liquid quenching technology, but some specifics and brief comments are provided regarding alternative quenching media as well. The article provides a discussion on the following quench modes that can be applied in IH using liquid media: conventional immersion quenching, open spray quenching, flood quenching, and submerged quench or submerged spray quench. It also focuses on four primary methods of IH: scan hardening, progressive hardening, single-shot hardening, and static hardening.

This article describes the effects of furnace atmospheric elements, including air, water vapor, molecular nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide, on steels. It provides useful information on six groups of commercially important prepared atmospheres classified by the American Gas Association on the basis of the method of preparation or on the original constituents employed. These groups are designated and defined as follows: Class 100, exothermic base; Class 200, prepared nitrogen base; Class 300, endothermic base; Class 400, charcoal base; Class 500, exothermic-endothermic base; and Class 600, ammonia base. These are subclassified and numerically designated to indicate variations in the method by which they are prepared. The article also contains a table that lists significant furnace atmospheres and typical applications.