SURFACE TRANSFORMATION HARDENING ON STEELS TREATED WITH SOLAR-ENERGY IN CENTRAL TOWER AND HELIOSTATS FIELD

The possibility of surface hardening on AISI 4140 steel treated with c oncentrated solar energy in solar installations for electricity produc tion has been studied. The samples were slides from a 35 mm diameter s teel bar and their height was 35 mm. The quenching was made in water b ut also was considered the possibility of self-quenching by cooling in air. The amount of the surface hardness and the different structures obtained in both cases are presented, and some discussion is made with reference to the surface hardness, the hardness profiles and the stru ctures obtained. The heating of steel with concentrated solar energy m ay produce similar hardening to that obtained with more conventional t echniques of surface hardening.