Game-changing Sustainable Surface Hardening Technology
Surface hardening of stainless steel is a heat treatment technique that only very few companies master and nobody does it like Expanite. Expanite’s patented and proven technology, scientific know-how and flexible delivery model significantly improves product performance, quality and reduces costs.
The Expanite hardening processes effectively removes the oxide layer protecting stainless steels. This allows for controlled diffusion of nitrogen and/or carbon atoms in the underlying metal. The hardened layer is characterized by an expansion of the material structure. We call this zone expanded austenite, expanded martensite or simply, Expanite®.
Sustainability Might Be a Choice, But With Expanite It´s a Given!
Since the foundation of the company sustainability has been close to the hearts of the founders. Not only is the sole purpose of the treatments aimed at extending lifetime of components and systems, the “path” to achieve this life-extending state is more sustainable compared to alternative/competitive products: the ultra-short processing times yielding lowest possible carbon footprint, the lack of chemicals used before & after processing, and the non-toxic-waste processing are all core elements of Expanite’s technology, not a choice!
Versatility…
The individual processes are referred to as SuperExpanite, ExpaniteLow-T and ExpaniteHigh-T – and each of these processes comes in standard versions or tailored. However, the key is that no matter the stainless steel alloy – austenitic, martensitic, ferritic or duplex grades – there is an Expanite solution.
And the outcome is a significant improvement in wear and galling resistance due to a surface hardness of approx. 700-1300HV, and typically maintained or even improved corrosion resistance. Expanite processes are running daily, resulting in lead-times significantly lower than alternatives and full flexibility in when parts can be delivered for processing.
For those already using some sort of wear or galling prevention, Expanite’s surface hardening of stainless steel can be used for:
-
Replacing coatings such as hard-chrome plating for environmental and cost reasons, or PVD/DLC for cost or “line-of-sight” reasons -
Replacing traditional low-temperature carburizing diffusion processes for environmental, cost, corrosion resistance or lead-time reasons
-
Replacing conventional heat treatment on martensitic steels to improve wear and corrosion resistance
Science Meets Practical Engineering
The core of Expanite’s success lies in the scientific understanding of alloys like austenitic and martensitic — the structural transformations that occur when nitrogen or carbon atoms are diffused into stainless steel at carefully controlled temperatures.
This precise heat treatment process modifies the metal’s near-surface zone, dramatically enhancing hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue strength while preserving — and often improving — corrosion performance.
The result is a clean, homogenous, and stable surface that performs consistently even under high mechanical load or in aggressive environments.
Sustainability and Efficiency
When environmental impact and production efficiency matter more than ever, Expanite’s sustainable surface hardening technology stands out.
Our proprietary processes require no toxic pre- or post-treatment chemicals, generate no hazardous waste, and consume significantly less energy compared to conventional heat treatment or coating technologies.
Because processing times are short and cycle consistency is high, Expanite delivers both a lower carbon footprint and faster turnaround times — helping customers meet both performance and sustainability goals.
Don´t Just Take Our Word for It!
Expanite has conducted several certified ASTM and/or ISO tests to document wear, galling and corrosion resistance click below for more:
