This paper presents developments contributing to the improvement of the process of producing hard carbide layers, with special attention to the application on tools and dies. The quantitative impact of the chemical composition of the steel and the process temperature on the kinetics of the carbide layer formation has been determined. In conventional processes of diffusion formation of carbide layers the phenomenon of partial decarburisation of steel occurring beneath the carbide layer during the process of its formation has been dealt with by the introduction of controlled precarburisation. Diffusion formation of carbide layers has been improved by the development of duplex processes that enable the formation of a case hardened layer which is harder than the core. Thus, the substrate for the hard and brittle carbide layer is improved. This development should contribute to the improvement of properties of the surface layers produced by the diffusion formation of carbide layers. In this way this process can be applied to the manufacturing of tools and dies.
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