January 2023 Term Laboratory Report Book

MME 444
Heat Treatment and
Microstructure Sessional
Name: Masuma Akther Lovely

Student Number: 1811016

Experiment No : 04

Experiment name: Hardenability: Jominy End Quench Test

 PLAGIARISM STATEMENT (to be signed by student)

Using someone else's ideas or phrasing and representing those ideas or phrasing as my own,
either on purpose or through carelessness, is a serious offense known as plagiarism.
Plagiarism is an examination offence and may carry heavy penalties.

I declare that apart from properly referenced quotations, this report is my own work and
contains no plagiarism; it has not been submitted previously for any other assessed work on
this course.

I further declare that the report in any way does not resemble cheating and attempted
cheating, lying, and stealing.

Student Name: Masuma Akther Lovely

Student Number: 1811016

Course Number: MME 444 Heat Treatment and Microstructure Sessional

Student Signature:

Date: 08/08/2023
Table of Contents
QUESTION AND ANSWER: ........................................................................................................ 4

REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................11

Table of Figures
Figure 1:Transformation curves showing variation in microstructure as a function of cooling rate
......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 2: Typical continuous cooling transformation curves showing resulting properties ........... 6
Figure 3: Effect of carbon content (wt%) on hardness ................................................................... 7
The purpose of this experiment was to study hardness and microstructure as a function of quench
rate and investigate the hardenability of steels by the Jominy test.

QUESTION AND ANSWER:

1. How do your hardness measurements correlate with your microstructural observations?

Answer:

By analyzing the microstructure of a sample using jominy end quench test, we can obtain valuable
insights into its hardness. Several factors play a vital role in correlating hardness measurements
with microstructural observations. The phase composition of a material has a direct impact on its
hardness level, as the presence of different phases, such as martensite, austenite, ferrite, and
pearlite, influences the hardness value. Furthermore, the relative number of phases present in the
microstructure can be determined by measuring the hardness. Similarly, grain size is another
critical factor that affects a sample's hardness. Smaller grains result in more grain boundaries,
which act as obstacles to dislocation movement, thereby increasing the material's hardness.
Additionally, crystallographic orientation also influences material hardness, as certain orientations
offer more resistance to deformation than others. The use of electron backscatter diffraction
(EBSD) in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can reveal the crystallographic orientation of
grains, and the correlation of hardness measurements with specific orientations is possible. Finally,
inclusions, voids, and defects within a material can also alter its hardness by functioning as stress
concentration locations. Microstructural investigations can reveal the presence of such features,
whereas hardness tests can determine the impact on material strength.

2. Give five applications for quench-hardened steels.

Answer:

i. To enhance resistance to impact loading and absorption of torque of gears, shafts, and
bearings of automotive parts.
ii. Quench-hardened steels offer exceptional strength and wear resistance, making them
highly suitable for use in hydraulic cylinders, pins, and bushings. The use of these materials
ensures reliable and long-lasting performance on construction sites.
iii. To improve the hardness and wear resistance of cutting tools.
 iv. Quench-hardened steels provide the necessary strength and durability to drill bits, valves,
and downhole tools so that they can withstand extreme conditions, including high pressure,
temperature, and abrasive environments.
v. Quench-hardening of axles, wheelsets, and rails helps to withstand heavy loads and
repetitive stresses while maintaining their integrity over time.
3. What will be the difference in the hardness profile of a steel part quenched in water and in
oil at the same temperature?

Answer:

Quenching with water is a much faster and cheaper process, but typically results in a brittle end
product. Water-based quenchants are even faster, but the severity at which they do it can distort or
even crack some materials. Quenching with oil tends to be a bit slower, but results in a product
with moderate hardness and less stress without causing significant distortions (typically the more
desirable outcome). [1]

Figure 1:Transformation curves showing variation in

microstructure as a function of cooling rate
 Figure 2: Typical continuous cooling transformation curves showing resulting properties

4. Steel gears are being quenched by dropping into a tank of room temperature oil. A
competitor makes gears of the same size and shape, apparently from the same raw material,
but his gears last longer than yours. What can you do to improve the quality of your product
and cut down wear? What is the danger in this course of action if you overdo it?

Answer:

Creating high-quality gears is a complex process that involves ensuring the outer surface is durable
while maintaining toughness in the inner region. However, submerging the entire gear in oil can
make the surface too soft and easily worn down, while the inner region may become weakened.
To enhance gear quality, it's crucial to use surface hardening, which selectively hardens only the
surface layer of the gear teeth, improving their stress and abrasion resistance. There are various
methods for selective hardening, including induction, laser, and flame hardening. However,
diffusion hardening techniques like carburizing and nitriding may also be used if the gear surface's
composition needs to be altered. After quenching, heat treatment is essential to relieve stress.
However, over-quenching or using a more aggressive quenching medium can lead to excessive
hardness and brittleness, increasing the likelihood of gear failure. Similarly, modifying the steel
composition without proper testing can result in unexpected changes in material behavior,
lowering toughness or mechanical performance.
 5. What is the ideal critical diameter and can it be determined with a Jominy test?
Answer:
The critical diameter pertains to the maximum diameter of a circular bar sample that can be entirely
quenched towards the center under the assumption of perfect quenching, assuming infinite cooling
capacity at the surface. The sample is regarded as fully quenched towards the center if the
proportion of martensite at the center is equal to or greater than 50%, occasionally reaching 100%.
This parameter is of utmost importance in various industrial applications, as it determines the
structural integrity and performance of the materials. [2]

In a Jominy test, the critical diameter is the smallest sample diameter at which complete hardness
may be reached at the quenched end. In other words, the ideal critical diameter is the lowest sample
size that results in a completely hardened microstructure. The Jominy test provides valid data for
steels having an ideal diameter from about 25 to 150 mm (1 to 6 in.).

6. How is the role of carbon and various alloy elements on the hardenability of steels?
Answer:
The main alloying elements which affect hardenability are carbon, boron, and a group of elements
including Cr, Mn, Mo, Si, and Ni.

Effect of Carbon:

Carbon controls the hardness of the martensite. Increasing the carbon content increases the
hardness of steels up to about 0.6wt%. At higher carbon levels, the formation of martensite is
depressed to lower temperatures and the transformation from austenite to martensite may be
incomplete, leading to retained austenite.

Figure 3: Effect of carbon content (wt%) on hardness

The combination of martensite and austenite in steel leads to a decrease in overall hardness, while
the hardness of the martensite phase remains high. Carbon can improve the hardenability of steel,
but it is generally not significant enough to control it. High carbon content in steels can cause
issues during heat treatment and machining, so it is more common to regulate hardenability using
other elements and keep carbon levels below 0.4wt%.

Effect of Boron:

The addition of boron to steel, even in small amounts (0.0010%), improves its hardenability. This
is particularly beneficial for unalloyed and low alloyed steels, as it raises their hardness levels. [3]

Effect of Nickel:

Adding 2 to 5% nickel and 0.1 to 0.5% carbon makes steels stronger and tougher. Nickel improves
properties like tensile strength, yield strength, toughness, ductility, forming ability, hardness,
elastic limit, and resistance to corrosion. An alloy with 25% nickel is the strongest and most rust-
resistant, withstanding high temperatures without burning.

Effect of Chromium, Molybdenum, Manganese, Silicon, Nickel, and Vanadium:

Cr, Mo, Mn, Si, Ni, and V slow down the phase transformation from austenite to ferrite and
pearlite. The redistribution of alloying elements during the transformation affects the phase
transformation temperatures, resulting in microstructure, and hardenability. [4]

7. What effect does surface scale have on hardness measurements?

Answer:

Surface scale is a layer of oxidized material that forms on steel surfaces when exposed to oxidizing
environments. It can make the outer layer of the steel softer and lead to incorrect hardness readings
if not accounted for. Hardness testing methods can penetrate through the softer layer to assess the
actual hardness of the steel underneath. However, the surface scale can cause irregularities and
roughness on the steel surface, which may interfere with the positioning of the hardness indenter
and lead to inconsistent results.
 8. You have three steels. Select the most appropriate steel to achieve the necessary levels of
mechanical properties, residual stress, and distortion in a 1mm diameter wood-working
drill. Why? 1% C, 0.4% Si, 1% Mn, 5% Cr, 1% Mo and 0.4% C, 0.4% Mn, 0.3% Si, and
0.5% C, 4% Cr, 6% Mo

Answer:

A low hardenability steel (cheap) suitable for water quenching small components with
transformation to martensite across the full section is desired for the woodworking drill. So,
the steel with composition 0.4% C, 0.4% Mn, and 0.3% Si is preferred. The reason behind this
choice is

i. Wooden working drill is small in size and they require a balance of hardness and
toughness to withstand the cutting force. The composition will make the wear-resistant
and will also provide sufficient hardness for cutting.
ii. The second steel’s composition suggests it can be effectively heat-treated to achieve
the desired mechanical properties. The combination of Mn and Si content can
contribute to a balanced microstructure that is both hard and tough. Also, the presence
of Mo will prevent embrittlement in the grain boundary of steel.
9. As grain size increases, the effect of boron on hardenability decreases. Why?

Answer:

As grain size becomes finer, the hardenability effect of boron increases. Boron segregates to grain
boundaries of austenite and thus, suppresses the nucleation of pro eutectoid ferrite. Thus, boron
diminishes the hardenability effect of gain size and it has a larger hardenability effect in fine-
grained steels than in coarse-grained steels. The discrepancy about optimum boron content for
maximum hardenability could be understood by the fact that it depends on the amount of grain
boundary area. If the amount of boron level is too small to segregate to suppress the nucleation of
ferrite, (because of the larger grain area of fine grains), the marked increase in hardenability cannot
occur, but by increasing the austenitizing temperature, austenite grains coarsen to decrease the
grain boundary area. Now the boron level becomes effective to cause a marked increase in
hardenability. [5]
 10. What is the significance of this experiment? How is it related to your course of study?

Answer:

The Jominy end-quench test assesses a steel sample's hardenability, which refers to its ability to
harden through its entire cross-section during quenching. The test measures the depth to which the
hardening effect can penetrate from the surface, which is important in selecting appropriate heat
treatment processes. During the test, a steel specimen is heated and quickly cooled by quenching
one end with cold water while the other end remains hot. The resulting data helps determine the
steel's microstructure and hardness changes from the quenched end to the unquenched end,
providing insights into its hardenability properties and assisting in deciding on heat treatment
processes.

The Jominy end-quench test is an important experiment in the Heat Treatment of Steel course. It
helps modify the microstructure of steel to achieve desired mechanical properties. Knowing the
hardenability of steel alloys is crucial for selecting appropriate heat treatment methods to improve
performance. The Jominy test focuses on the variation of steel hardness after quenching, a crucial
aspect of heat treatment processes. By conducting and analyzing this test, one can evaluate the
hardenability of different steel grades and make informed decisions when selecting heat treatment
processes. This leads to achieving the desired balance between hardness, toughness, and other
mechanical properties.
REFERENCES

[1] "The Definitive Guide: Quenching in Oil vs. Water," [Online]. Available: The Definitive
Guide: Quenching in Oil vs. Water (fusion-chemical.com). [Accessed 7 8 2023].

[2] Y. H. Tadashi KASUYA, "Carbon Equivalent to Assess Hardenability of Steel and Prediction
of HAZ Hardness Distribution," p. 9, 2023.

[3] "Boron in Stee," [Online]. Available: Boron in Steel: Part Two :: Total Materia Article.
[Accessed 7 8 2023].

[4] "Uses of Jominy data: Effects of alloying and microstructure," [Online]. Available: Uses of
Jominy data: Effects of alloying and microstructure (doitpoms.ac.uk). [Accessed 7 8 2023].

[5] " Boron and Hardenability of Steel," [Online]. Available: Boron and Hardenability of Steel |
Metallurgy (engineeringenotes.com). [Accessed 7 8 2023].