The wear resistance of a steel shaft is to be improved by hardening its surface. This is to this case the initial carbon content of the steel is 0.15 wt%, and a carbon content of 0.75 wt% is to be established at a position 0.65 mm below the surface. Furthermore, the surface concentration is to be maintained constant, but may be varied between 1.2 and 1.4 wt% C. Specify an appropriate heat treatment in terms of surface carbon concentration and time, and for a temperature between 1000°C and 1200°C.