Introduction

The almost unlimited variety of applications of the steels available today is closely linked to the targeted property change through heat treatment. Both the description of the material steel and the process technology of heat treatment have been described in countless publications. So why this book? As can be inferred from the title, it is about the question of when and by what a fault or damage can occur to heat-treated components or tools. This is also the perennial question when damage has already occurred. What material and heat treatment conditions are normal and where does an abnormality begin? And is an abnormality or a deviation from usual process parameters in heat treatment actually also the cause of the damage?