Week 5. Quenching and Tempering

Heat Treatment of Steels
600-451 Gordana A. Cingara
Week 5: Quenching and Tempering

1
Quenching
HARDENABILITY
The aim of quenching Martensite

HARDENABILITY
Hardenability is the ability of steel to be hardened
by quenching.
Broadly defined as the property which determines

the depth and distribution of hardness induced by
quenching.

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering
Quenching
HARDENABILITY
The difference between hardenability & hardness:
HARDENABILITY is the ability of steel to be
hardened by quenching.
Testing techniques: Jominy End Quench tests, CCT
curves
Hardness is a measure of a material resistance to penetration.
Testing techniques: Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers
Martensite
Fe
C
Martensite crystallography:
Austenite (FCC) transforms into martensite

(BCT)
Diffusionless transformation
No change in chemical composition
Carbon atoms strain the lattice into the BCT
Maximum hardness of any steel is associated with a

fully martensitic structure!
Martensite microstructure
Source: W. Callister, Materials

Science & Engineering, 8th Ed.
Martensite
The properties of
martensite are a function
of its composition - C%.
Effect of carbon content of steel

on the hardness of martensite
Lattice parameter, nm
Martensite
Volume change: 'V = Vmartensite Vaustenite = ~ 4 %
BCT/FCC o c/a = 1.414
During the decomposition of

austenite there is a net volume
increase leading to the creation of
internal stresses that can grow
and nucleate cracks upon
Variation of the lattice parameters
quenching.
of austenite and martensite as a
function of carbon content
(Roberts, C.S., Trans AIME, 197 203 (1953)
Quench Cracks
Martensitic steels are the hardest /

strongest but also the most brittle!
8
DP600 fracture Martensite cracking

during the tensile test
Separation of cracked martensite
9
Avramovic-Cingara G., Saleh Ch.A.R., Jain M.K., and Wilkinson D.S,
Metallurgical Transactions A, Vol. 40A, (2009) pp. 3117-27.
Hardenability
HARDENABILITY is an index of the depth to which
martensite can be formed in a given steel, as the
result of a quenching.
This is dependent upon the chemical composition
of the steel
Most heat treatable steels are alloys, rather that
plain carbon steel.
The cooling rates at the surface and at the center of

a specimen are not the same.
10
Hardenability
The variation of
microstructure as a
function of cooling
rate for an eutectoid
steel
R.E. Reed-Hill, Physical

Metallurgy Principles,
PWS, Boston, 1994
11
Hardenability
The effect of the difference
in the cooling rate at the
surface and at the center
of a cylindrical bar on the
resulting microstructure
(schematical)
Martensite (surface of bar)
R.E. Reed-Hill, Physical

Metallurgy Principles,
PWS, Boston, 1994
12
Hardenability
Critical Diameter:
Diameter of a bar which contains 50% martensite 50% pearlite
= measure of a steel hardenability
V\PEROD
What is insufficient in this definition:

Definition of the quench media
This is done by Grossman in terms of:
- Type of media
- Nature of agitation of the media

13
Hardenability
,GHDOFULWLFDOGLDPHWHU
Ideal quench media - remove the heat from the surface
as fast as it can flow from inside of the bar
14
Hardenability
The severity of quench: water > oil > air
During annealing material is cooled in air and/or heated
furnace itself
For hardening, material is immersed in water/oil quench bath
Four commonly used quenching media:

BRINE the fastest cooling rate
WATER moderate cooling rate
OIL slowest cooling rate
GAS used in automatic furnaces, usually
liquid nitrogen, can be very fast cooling too.
15
Jominy Test
The test used to evaluate hardenability!
An austenitized steel bar is quenched at one end,

thus producing a range of cooling rates along the
bar.
Jominy distance the distance from the quenched
end of a Jominy bar (related to the cooling rate)
Advantage: single specimen gives a range of cooling

rates.
16
Jominy Test
Standard Jominy specimen: cylindrical rod (length- 4in, dia- 1in).
Source: W. Callister, Materials Science

& Engineering, 8th Ed.
Schematic Jominy end specimen (quenching) mounted during

quenching and (b) after hardness testing from the quenched end
along a ground flat
17
Jominy Test
a)
b)
18
Jominy Test
Correlation of hardenability
and continuous cooling
information for
R an iron-carbon alloy steel
of eutectoid composition.

19
Hardenability
Typical hardness test made along

a diameter of a quenched cylinder
(after sectioning the cylinder)
Hardness test (similar to

that on the top figure)
made on a series of steel
bars of the same
composition, but with
different diameter
(schematic).
20
Jominy Test
Correlation of continuous
cooling and IT diagram with
the end-quench
hardenability test data for an
8630 steel US Steel Corp.
Source: S. Avner, Introduction to

Physical Metallurgy, McGraw Hill
21
Jominy Test
If the position on the

Jominy bar where the
structure is half
martensite is known, the
table makes possible to
determine the ideal
critical diameter, D1
22
Role of carbon in hardenability

The hardenability of a steel is a strong function
of the carbon content.
23
Role of alloying elements in hardenability

The presence of alloying ellements may change
The eutectoid temperature (A1)
- Decreasing Ni, Mn
- Increasing Si, Cr, Mo
The rate at which the pearlite reaction occurs
Alloying elements may be partitioning between the
ferrite and cementite in the pearlite as a result of
peralite transformation. Redistribution of alloying
elements in:
- Ferrite, or
- Special carbides
24
The effects of alloying elements
The eutectoid temperature can be

affected!
The eutectoid composition can

be affected!
25
Hardenability
With the exception of Co, all other alloying elements
delay the kinetics.
The extent of delay is a function of:
i) Type of element
ii) Concentration of the element
iii) Carbon content of the steel
iv) Austenite grain size
Grossman define these relationships in terms of
Hardenability Multiplying FactorsDVJLYHQLQWKH
table (next slide).
26
Hardenability Multiplying Factors

Carbon -Grain Size
Percent

Mn
Si
Ni
Cr
Mo
27
Hardenability Multiplying Factors

Example 4340 Steel
Composition: 0.40% C, 0.78%Mn, 1.79% Ni, 0.80% Cr,
0.33% Mo, witt the austenite grain size of 7.
Step #1: Define the base diameter
Step #2: Define the multiplying factors (table):
Mn @ 0.78 = 3.601
Cr @ 0.80 = 2.728
Ni @ 1.79 = 1.813
Mo @ 0.33 = 2.140
Step 3: Define the hardenability
D1 = base diameter x all multiplying factors = 0.213x
3.601 x 1.813 x2.728 x 2.140 = 8.12!
28
TEMPERING
Heat treatment of a martensitic steel at a
temperature just below the eutectoid
temperature in the range of 250 650 C for a
specified amount of time.
The purpose:
To relieve residual stresses
To improve the ductility and toughness

Reheating of martensite promotes decomposition (diffusion
processes produce more stable and less brittle structure)
29
Spherodite - TEMPERING
Spherodite is formed when a pearlitic or bainitic steel is heated
up to a temperature just below the eutectoid (7270C) and left at
this T for a sufficiently long time (18-24 h);
or TEMPERING of a martensite at very high temperatures.
Formed by carbon diffusion!
Very SOFT
Cementite as spherelike
particles in a ferrite
matrix

30
TEMPERING
Reduces
brittleness of martensite,
Reduces internal stress caused by quenching.
TS(MPa)
YS(MPa)
1800
1600
1400
TS
YS
1200
1000
%RA
800
200
60
50
%RA
40
30
400
600
Tempering T (C)
Decreases UTS and Yield

Strength, Increases %RA
Tempered martensite
microstructure at 594oC, SEM

31
TEMPERING
[Shackelford, 1996]
TTT Diagram for

Eutectoid Steel
Tempering,
(Tempered
Martensite)
32
TEMPERING
The effect of tempering
temperature on the
mechanical properties
of a 1050 steel
33
Martempering
Variation of the quench and temper and consists of
austenizing, quenching and tempering.
1. The part is first quenched rapidly until its temperature has
fallen below that of the nose of the TTT diagram but is still
above the Ms point.
2. It is held at that temperature to relieve stresses by
becoming of a uniform temperature;
3. and then finally cooled through the Ms point.
4. Tempering is necessary to toughen the martensite.
34
Martempering Transformation Diagram

35
Austempering
Forms bainite instead of martensite.
Bainite can have useful hardness and toughness

values . When they are adequate for the application,
the formation of bainite can be chosen instead of
martensite.
This avoids the problems associated with the rapid
volume changes during the martensitic transformation.
To allow this, the steel is quenched to a
temperature below the nose and held there until the
bainitic transformation is completed.
No tempering is required.
36
Austempering Transformation Diagram

37
Austempering

38
Austempering
Variety of
industrial
articles that are
austemepred
(Ajax Electric
Company)

39
Summary - Transformation products during quenching

and tempering of a eutectoid steel
Spherodite
AUSTENITE
or hold at 650-705oC
HRC=5-10
650-705oC
Coarse Pearlite
HRC=15
Medium Pearlite
HRC=30
400-650oC
Fine Pearlite
HRC=40
Tempered
Martensite
Bainite
HRC=40-60
200-400oC
Martensite
HRC=64
40
Summary
Reheat
41

Week 5. Quenching and Tempering

Încărcat de

Informații document

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Week 5. Quenching and Tempering

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Heat Treatment of Steels

600-451 Gordana A. Cingara

Week 5: Quenching and Tempering

The aim of quenching Martensite

Broadly defined as the property which determines

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Austenite (FCC) transforms into martensite

Maximum hardness of any steel is associated with a

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Source: W. Callister, Materials

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Effect of carbon content of steel

During the decomposition of

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Martensitic steels are the hardest /

DP600 fracture Martensite cracking

Separation of cracked martensite

The cooling rates at the surface and at the center of

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

R.E. Reed-Hill, Physical

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Martensite (surface of bar)

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

R.E. Reed-Hill, Physical

What is insufficient in this definition:

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Four commonly used quenching media:

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

An austenitized steel bar is quenched at one end,

Advantage: single specimen gives a range of cooling

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Source: W. Callister, Materials Science

Schematic Jominy end specimen (quenching) mounted during

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Source: W. Callister, Materials Science

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Typical hardness test made along

Hardness test (similar to

Source: S. Avner, Introduction to

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

If the position on the

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Role of carbon in hardenability

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Role of alloying elements in hardenability

The effects of alloying elements

The eutectoid temperature can be

The eutectoid composition can

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Hardenability Multiplying Factors

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Hardenability Multiplying Factors

To improve the ductility and toughness

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Source: W. Callister, Materials Science

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Decreases UTS and Yield

Source: W. Callister, Materials Science

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

TTT Diagram for

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Heat Treatment of Steels (600-451 - G. Cingara), Week 5: Quenching & Tempering

Martempering Transformation Diagram