Hardenability is a qualitative measurement of the rate at which hardness drops off with

distance into the interior of a specimen as a result of diminished martensite content. The traditional
concept about high strength in steel is by quenching to form martensite that is subsequently
reheated or tempered, at an intermediate temperature, increasing the toughness of the steel without
having high loss in strength. The ability of steel to form martensite on quenching is referred to as
the hardenability. Therefore, for the fully development of strength, steel must be converted to
martensite first. To achieve this, the steel must be quenched at a fastest rate to avoid the
decomposition of austenite during cooling to products such as ferrite, pearlite and bainite. The
hardenability of a steel depends upon the actual rate at which its austenite transforms to fine
pearlite at the particular temperature at which this reaction sets in most promptly. The composition
of the steel is the main cause for the temperature at which the transformation rate will be the
greatest.

The factors that affect the hardenability of steel are grain size, carbon content and chemical
composition. The hardenability of steel increases with increasing austenite grain size, because the
grain boundary area is decreasing. This means that the sites for the nucleation of ferrite and pearlite
are being reduced in number, the transformation will be affected, which hardenability will increase.
The finer the grain, the more rapid is the transformation to fine pearlite, and correspondingly the
lower is the hardenability. Effective grain size is the main factor that affect the hardenability.
Carbon is known as hardening agent is steel. Carbon will increase the hardenability of steel by
slowing down the formation of pearlite and ferrite. But this carbon method is limited as lack of
toughness of material will results in greater difficulties in fabrication, subsequently the probability
of distortion and cracking during heat treatment and welding. For chemical composition, one
should know that alloying element will slow down the ferrite and pearlite reactions, so the
hardenability will increase. Chromium, Molybdenum, Manganese, Silicon, Nickel and Vanadium
all affect the hardenability of steels in this manner. Chromium, Molybdenum and Manganese being
used most often. Boron is one of the effective alloy for improving hardenability at as low as 0.0005%
content. Boron is most effective in steels of 0.25% carbon or less. By adding alloying element, the
alloying element will delay the austenite-pearlite or bainite reaction, which will permits more
martensite to form, yielding a greater hardness.