ABSTRACT
The first edition of the Steel Heat Treatment Handbook was initially released in 1997. The
objective of that book was to provide the reader with well-referenced information on the
subjects covered with sufficient depth and breadth to serve as either an advanced under-
graduate or graduate level text on heat treatment or as a continuing handbook reference for
the designer or practicing engineer. However, since the initial release of the first edition of the
Steel Heat Treatment Handbook, there have been various advancements in the field that
needed to be addressed to assure up-to-date coverage of the topic. This text, Steel Heat
Treatment: Metallurgy and Technologies, is part of a revision of the earlier text. Some of the
chapters in this text are updated revisions of the earlier book and others are completely new
chapters or revisions. These chapters include:
Chapter 1. Steel Nomenclature (Revision)
Chapter 2. Classification and Mechanisms of Steel Transformations (New Chapter)
Chapter 3. Fundamental Concepts in Steel Heat Treatment (Minor Revisions)
Chapter 4. Effects of Alloying Elements on the Heat Treatment of Steel (Minor Revisions)
Chapter 5. Hardenability (Minor Revisions)
Chapter 6. Steel Heat Treatment (Minor Revisions)
Chapter 7. Heat Treatment with Gaseous Atmospheres (Revision)
Chapter 8. Nitriding Techniques, Ferritic Nitrocarburizing, and Austenitic Nitrocarburiz-
ing Techniques and Methods (Revision)
Chapter 9. Quenching and Quenching Technology (Revision)
Chapter 10. Distortion of Heat-Treated Components (New Chapter)
Chapter 11. Tool Steels (New Chapter)
Chapter 12. Stainless Steel Heat Treatment (New Chapter)
Chapter 13. Heat Treatment of Powder Metallurgy Steel Components (New Chapter)
Approximately a third of the book is new and a third of the book is significantly revised
versus the first edition of the Steel Heat Treatment Handbook. This new text is current with
respect to heat treatment technology at this point at the beginning of the 21st century and is
considerably broader in coverage but with the same depth and thoroughness that character-
ized the first edition.
