Effect of Tempering temperature on Hardness

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Objective
To study the effect the of tempering on water quenched mild steel 1045
THEORY
INTRODUCTION
Tempering modifies the properties of quench-hardened tool steels to produce a more desirable
combination of strength, hardness, and toughness than obtained in the quenched steel. The as-quenched
structure of tool steel is a heterogeneous mixture of retained austenite, untempered martensite,
and carbides. More than one tempering cycle may be necessary to produce an optimum
structure. It is normally desirable to transform all retained austenite to ensure complete hardness,
improve toughness, and minimize distortion during service. This can be more nearly accomplished
by two or shorter tempering cycles than by a single and longer cycle.
FACTOR AFFECTING OF TEMPERING
Tempering is done to remove internal stress, improve ductility, machinability and to lower the
brittleness. So it depends upon some factor, by varying these factors properties may increase or
decrease.
Tempering temperature
Time at temperature
Cooling rate from the tempering temperature
Composition of the steel, including carbon content, alloy content, and residual elements.
STRUCTURE CHANGES DURING TEMPERING
A number of structural changes take place during tempering temperature. These changes include
isothermal transformation of retain austenite, ejection off carbon from body centered tetragonal lattice to
martensite growth and spheroidization of carbides particles and formation of ferrite carbides mixture.
Depending upon the tempering temperature, treatment proceeds in different stages.
The microstructural changes during tempering may bring about dimensional changes of a specimen due
to the relative iron atomic volume change between virgin martensite and tempered martensite strain
occurring due to tempering of martensite is called the tempering strain. This tempering strain is an
important issue for the steel parts requiring strict dimensional control such as bearings and gears. Over
the last few decades, several studies have been performed to analyze and predict the changes in
microstructure and volume during tempering.
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Tempering stage 0: Redistribution of carbon atoms takes place by segregation to lattice defects
and by formation of clusters. In lath martensite, carbon atoms segregate to dislocations and lath
boundaries. In plate martensite, carbon atoms form clusters and a modulated structure on twin
interfaces or {102} planes. This stage occurs at temperatures from 0
o
Cto80
o
C and causes a slight
volume decrease (0.15 pct).
Tempering stage 1: Precipitation of transition carbides occurs during this stage. The -carbide
precipitates in martensite contain greater than 0.20 wt pct C because the segregated carbon atoms
(<0.20 wt pct) do not participate in the precipitation. However, they change depending on the
carbon content. In high-carbon steels, (or )-carbide precipitates by replacing the modulated
structure in a gradual manner. This stage occurs between 80
o
C and 180
o
C and causes a volume
decrease (_0.54 pct)
Tempering stage 2: Retained austenite decomposes into ferrite and cementite. This stage occurs
in the temperature range of 200
o
Cto300
o
C and causes a volume increase (+0.33 pct) when carbon
concentration in austenite is small.
Tempering stage 3: Segregated carbon and transition carbides transform into cementite. This
stage happens between 250
o
C and 350
o
C and causes a volume decrease (0.66 pct).[1]
An additional stage of tempering (stage IV), precipitation of finely dispersed alloy carbides, exists for
high-alloy steels. It has been found that stage I of tempering is often preceded by the redistribution of
carbon atoms, called autotempering or quench tempering, during quenching and/or holding at room
temperature. Other structural changes take place because of carbon atom rearrangement preceding the
classical stage I of tempering.
DIMENSIONAL CHANGES
Martensite transformation is associated with an increase in volume. During tempering, martensite
decomposes into a mixture of ferrite and cementite with a resultant decrease in volume as
tempering temperature increases. Because a 100% martensitic structure after quenching cannot always
be assumed, volume may not continuously decrease with increasing tempering temperature.
The retained austenite in plain carbon steel sand low-alloy steels transforms to bainite with an increase
in volume, in stage II of tempering. When certain alloy steels are tempered, a precipitation of
finely distributed alloy carbides occurs, along with an increase in hardness, called secondary
hardness, and an increase in volume. With the precipitation of alloy carbides, the Ms temperature
(temperature at which martensite starts to form from austenite upon cooling) of the retained
austenite will increase and transform to martensite during cooling from the tempering temperature.
Effect of Tempering temperature on Hardness

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TEMPERING TEMPERATURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Several empirical relationships have been made between the tensile strength and hardness
of tempered steels such that the measurement of hardness is commonly used to evaluate the
response of a steel to tempering. Figure shows the effect of tempering temperature on hardness,
tensile and yield strengths, elongation, and
reduction in area of a plain carbon steel (AISI 1050) held at temperature for 1 h. It can be
seen that both room-temperature hardness and strength decrease as the tempering temperature is
increased. Ductility at ambient temperatures, measured by either elongation or reduction in area,
increases with tempering temperature.

Figure 1: TEMPERING TEMPERATURE AND ALLOYING ADDITION
Most medium-alloy steels exhibit a response to tempering similar to that of carbon steels.
EFFECT ON DUCTILITY
There is no decrease in ductility in the temperature range of tempered martensite embrittlement,
or TME (also known as 500 F embrittlement or one-step temper embrittlement) because the
tensile tests are performed on smooth, round specimens at relatively low strain rates. However,
in impact loading, catastrophic failure may result when alloy steel is tempered in the tempered
martensite embrittlement range (260 to 370 C, or 500 to 700 F).
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EFFECT ON TOUGHNESS
There is no decrease in ductility in the temperature range of tempered martensite embrittlement, or TME
(also known as 500F embrittlement or one-step temper embrittlement) because the tensile tests are
performed on smooth, round specimens at relatively low strain rates. However, in impact loading,
catastrophic failure may result when alloy steel is tempered in the tempered martensite embrittlement
range (260 to 370 C, or 500 to 700 F).
COOLING RATE
Another factor that can affect the properties of steel is the cooling rate from the tempering temperature.
Although tensile properties are not affected by cooling rate, toughness (as measured by notched-bar
impact testing) can be decreased if the steel is cooled slowly through the temperature range from
375 to 575 C (705 to 1065 F), especially in steels that contain carbide-forming elements.
Elongation and reduction in area may be affected also. This phenomenon is called temper
embrittlement.
TEMPERING TIME
The diffusion of carbon and alloying elements necessary for the formation of carbides is temperature
and time dependent. The effect of tempering time on the hardness of a 0.82% C steel tempered at
various temperatures is shown. The changes in hardness are approximately linear over a large portion of
the time range when the time is presented on a logarithmic scale. Rapid changes in room-temperature
hardness occur at the start of tempering in times less than 10 s. Less rapid, but still large, changes in
hardness occur in times from 1 to 10 min, and
smaller changes occur in times from 1 to 2 h.
For consistency and less dependency on
variations in time, components generally are
tempered for 1 to 2 h. The levels of hardness
produced by very short tempering cycles, such
as in induction tempering, would be quite
sensitive to both the temperature achieved and the
time at temperature curve.
By the use of an empirical tempering parameter
developed by Holloman and Jaffe, the approximate
hardnesses of quenched and tempered low- and
Effect of Tempering temperature on Hardness

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medium-alloy steels can be predicted. The parameter is T(c + log t), where T is temperature in degrees
Kelvin, t is time in seconds, and c is a constant that depends on the carbon content of the steel.
Reasonably good correlations are obtained except when significant amounts of retained austenite are
present.
CARBON CONTENTS
Most of the steel have Ms above ambient so when they are quenched there is brief period in which
carbon atoms can redistribute themselves. This process is called quenched tempering or auto-tempering.
Because of the stress field around the individual dislocation and cell wall of lath martensite certain sites
provides low energy for carbon atoms than other normal lattices sites.
During tempering carbon contents vary. By increasing carbon contents probability for the formation of
retain austenite is more. Nose of isothermal diagram to right side because carbon shifts. And during
tempering this retain austenite is transformed into bainite, which improves strength. But this effect is
pronounced up to 0.8 pct carbon.

Figure 2: EFFECT OF CARBON ON HARDNESS
ADDITION OF ALLOYING ELEMENTS
The main purpose of adding alloying elements to steel is to increase the hardenability, that is, the
capability of the steel to form martensite upon quenching from above its critical temperature. The
general effect of alloying elements on tempering is a retardation of the rate of softening, especially at the
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higher tempering temperatures. Thus, to reach a given hardness in a given period of time, alloy steels
require higher tempering temperatures than do carbon steels.
Alloying elements can be categorized as
Carbides forming elements
Non-carbides forming
CARBIDES FORMING ELEMENTS
The carbide forming elements (chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, tantalum, niobium, and
titanium) retard the softening process by the formation of alloy carbides. The effect of the
carbide-forming elements is minimal at low tempering temperatures where Fe3C forms; however,
at higher temperatures, alloy carbides are formed, and hardness decreases slowly with tempering
temperature.
Secondary hardness: The carbide-forming elements retard coalescence of cementite during tempering
and form numerous small carbide particles. Under certain conditions, such as with highly alloyed
steels, hardness may actually increase. This effect, mentioned previously, is known as secondary
hardening.
NON CARBIDES FORMING ELEMENTS
Elements such as nickel, silicon, aluminum, and manganese, which have little or no tendency to occur in
the carbide phase, remain essentially in solution in the ferrite and have only a minor effect on tempered
hardness. Hardening due to the presence of these elements occurs mainly through solid-solution
hardening of the ferrite or matrix grain size control.
SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS
The effect of molybdenum content on the tempering behavior of a 0.35% C steel is shown in Fig. 11. As
the alloy content increases, the magnitude of the secondary-hardening effect increases. Synergistic
effects of various combinations of alloying elements can occur: Chromium tends to produce secondary
hardening at a lower temperature than does molybdenum, and the combination of chromium and
molybdenum produces a rather flat tempering curve, with the peak hardness occurring at a somewhat
lower temperature than when only molybdenum is present. H11 steel is a widely used hot-working
die steel that contains nominally 0.35% C, 5% Cr, 1.5% Mo, and 0.4% V.
TEMPER EMBRITTLEMENT
When carbon or low-alloy steels are cooled slowly from tempering above 575 C (1065 F) or are
tempered for extended times between 375 and 575C (705 and 1065F), a loss in toughness occurs that
Effect of Tempering temperature on Hardness

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manifests itself in reduced notched-bar impact strength compared to that resulting from normal
tempering cycles and relatively fast cooling rates.
The cause of temper embrittlement is believed to be the precipitation of compounds containing trace
elements such as tin, arsenic, antimony, and phosphorus, along with chromium and/or manganese. The
intergranular nature of the fracture suggests that the embrittlement occurs at the prior austenite grain
boundaries. Although manganese and chromium cannot be restricted, a reduction of the other elements
and quenching from above 575C (1065 F) are the most effective remedies for this type of
embrittlement.
BLUE BRITTLENESS
The heating of plain carbon steels or some alloy steels to the temperature range of 230 to 370
C (450 to 700 F) may result in increased tensile and yield strength, as well as decreased ductility and
impact strength. This embrittling phenomenon is caused by precipitation hardening and is called blue
brittleness because it occurs within the blue heat range. If susceptible steels are heated within the 230 to
370 C (450 to 700 F) range, they may be embrittled and thus should not be used in applications in
which they are subjected to impact loads.
HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT
The selection of tempering temperature and the resultant hardness or plasticity must include the
consideration of the potential problem of hydrogen embrittlement, if the part were to be exposed to
hydrogen through electroplating, phosphating, or other means, or if environmental conditions cause the
cathodic absorption of hydrogen during service.
Generally, the restricted notch ductility of with hardnesses above 40 HRC presents ideal conditions for
the development of stress concentrations in parts containing notches or defects that would, in the
presence of relatively low hydrogen concentrations, lead to the failure of parts at stresses far below the
nominal tensile strength of the material. Thus, tempering should be carried out to achieve hardness
below 40 HRC if the part is to be subjected to relatively high stresses and probable exposure to
hydrogen.
LAB WORK
We heated the samples to at 850
o
C for one hour and water quenched it.
Than tempered these samples at different temperatures (150, 250, 350 and 450) and then
normalized them.
Measured hardness.
After grinding and polishing we observed the microstructure.
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CALCULATION
Austenitizing temperature = 850C
Soaking time = 1 hr
Etchant = 1% nital
Time for etching = 1 sec
Table 1: TEMPERATURE AND HARDNESS VALUES OF EXPERIMENT
Sr # TEMPERATURE
o
C HARDNESS
HR
C
BH
N

01 150 55 560
02 250 48.5 461
03 350 49.3 477
04 450 44 410






0
100
200
300
400
500
600
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
B
H
N

H
R
C

TEMPERATURE
HARDNESS vs TEMPERATURE CURVE
Effect of Tempering temperature on Hardness

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MICROSTRUCTURE

Figure 3: STEEL 1045 AT 150 TEMPERING TEMPERATURE 400x

Figure 4: STEEL 1045 AT 250 TEMPERING TEMPERATURE 400x

Effect of Tempering temperature on Hardness

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Figure 5: STEEL 1045 AT 350 TEMPERING TEMPERATURE 400x

Figure 6: STEEL 1045 AT 250 TEMPERING TEMPERATURE 400x
Effect of Tempering temperature on Hardness

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CONCLUSION
As tempering temperature increases hardness of materials decreases, because low carbon martensite
converts into lower bainite. As carbon is removed from BCT structure so hardness decreases. Hardness
value at some point also increases due to retain austenite conversion into tempered martensite.
ERROR IN IMAGES/MICROSTRUCTURE
These images are not truly represents the actual microstructure because of
Etching was not properly done and material
Within 2-3 seconds sample over etched.
Could not select proper area for microstructure.
REFERENCES
Introduction to physical metallurgy Sidney H. Avner
Heat treatment principal and techniques by C.P Sharma T.V Rajan and Ashok Sharma
Effect of carbon content upon the early stage of tempering of steel with Mn and V addition (Received 12.07.2007;
published in revised form 0 1.10.2007)
Heat Treating was published in 1991 as Volume 4 of the ASM Handbook. The Volume was prepared under the
direction of the ASM Handbook Committee.