Power transmission member such as gears with high breaking strength of the
edge portion (A) of the root and high spalling resistance of the tooth
side (B) is obtained. The work such as gears, etc. is cooled after
carburization by plasma carburizing, etc. and the work surface is
high-frequency hardened, and for heating at the time of high-frequency
hardening, the heating conditions are set in such a manner that the
heating temperature at the root becomes higher than that at the tooth side
and time for holding to high temperature becomes long. This promotes solid
solution of carbonate at the root and increases the remaining austenite
volume after hardening (25-35% for a good-rule-of-thumb) as well as
improves toughness at the edge. On the other hand, on the tooth side, the
remaining austenite volume decreases (5-15% for a good-rule-of-thumb) and
spalling resistance improves.