SHORT DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a heat treatment process of metal parts by carburization. According to the method, is placed the workpieces in a furnace and maintained in a carbon-enriching atmosphere comprising in particular carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen, said treatment comprising a first stage carried out at a temperature of 850 ° C to 1050 ° C followed by a second phase carried out at a temperature of 700 ° C to 950 ° C. During the first phase, one uses an atmosphere having a carbon potential of about 1.1% to 1.6% by weight, and during the second phase, it causes an increase of 2 to 30 times the nitrogen content said atmosphere so that the carbon potential difference between each of said phases is at least about 0.5% by weight. The invention applies to the thermal treatment of steel parts. It provides a case hardening depth of carburized and treated parts satisfied with a shorter processing time.
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