Thanks gents

The CCH process doesn't effect the gold. The carburizing temperature is 1400F for one hour. Gold melts well above that and it doesn't expand with heat and actually softens with a rapid quench ( nonferrous metals soften with quenching and harden with slow cooling, the opposite of ferrous metals) The parts are thoroughly cleaned and degreased, packed into a steel box with a mixture of wood and bone charcoal, heated to 1400F and left to soak for an hour. Then quenched into cool, aerated water being careful not to allow the parts to make contact with ambient air. If they harden and color properly, they are then tempered at 400F for an hour.

Sarq, Thanks, and I hope you are well