ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Carburization

Carburization is when we try to make something like steel harder and stronger by adding carbon to it. Just like how we add salt to our food to make it more delicious, we add carbon to steel to make it more durable.

Imagine you have a toy car made of clay. It's not very strong and if you drop it, it might break. But if you add a layer of hard and durable plastic on top of it, it becomes much stronger and can handle more wear and tear.

When we carburize steel, we essentially add a layer of carbon to the surface of the steel. We do this by heating the steel in an environment with a lot of carbon molecules, such as hot gases or liquids that contain carbon. The carbon molecules then "stick" to the surface of the steel, forming a layer that is harder and stronger than the original material.

This process is used in many industries, such as automotive and aerospace, to make parts that can handle high temperatures and pressures. For example, cars have parts that need to move very quickly and withstand a lot of friction, such as engines and gears. By carburizing these parts, we can make them more resistant to wear and tear, and therefore last longer.

In summary, carburization is like adding an extra layer of strength to a material by adding carbon to its surface. It makes things like steel harder and more durable, and helps them handle tough conditions without breaking down.