Quench Hardening and Tempering Behaviour of A Low Carbon Steel

Quench Hardening and Tempering Behaviour of
A Low Carbon Steel

Tehreem Kanwal, Rabia Nazir, Saba Zulqernain, A. Salam, Javaid Ahmad
Abstract
A 0.2%C steel was subjected to quenching and tempering heat treatment in this work. During
both oil and water quenching hardness of the as received material reasonably increased,
reaching a maximum from 53.75-68.65 HRA during water quenching. Ultimate tensile
strength also increased to a maximum of 1096.38MPa from 853.89MPa corresponding to the as
received material. Tempering of the quenched specimen resulted in a decrease in both the
hardness and tensile strength over the entire temperature range studies. Also the effect of
tempering on ductility of the quenched steel was not very clear.
Key words: Plain carbon steel, Quenching (oil & water), Tempering, Tempering temperature,
Mechanical properties.
Introduction study of tempering behaviour of these quenched

steels. However, tempering of such steels is
Plain carbon steels in which %age of carbon is usually not required because of a very high Ms
upto 0.3% are termed as low carbon steels. These (about 400◦C) and Mf temperatures, which allow
steels do not respond to heat treatments in which these steels to undergo self tempering during
the strength and hardness is increased by quenching [3].
formation of martensite. These steels posses low
strength but high ductility and are cold formable. Experimental Work
Therefore, instead of heat treatments, such as
Specimen for heat treatment and subsequent
quench hardening, their strength and hardness
hardness and tensile testing were obtained from
may be increased by cold working. The typical
½’’ diameter bar of a 0.20%C low carbon steel. A
applications of low carbon steels include:
muffle furnace was used, for austenitizing the
Automobile component, structural shapes/sections
specimens at 960◦C for 1hr and then quenched in
and sheets which are used in pipe lines, buildings,
cold water and oil. After quenching the hardness
bridges, tin cans etc. [1, 2, 4]
and tensile properties were evaluated and then the
Although low carbon steels do not respond to specimens were subjected to tempering heat
quench hardening. An attempt was made in treatments, in the temperature range of 150-
present work to improve strength and hardness of 550◦C. After which the hardness and tensile
a 0.20% C steel by quenching it in cold water and properties were again determined. For hardness
oil. The present work was further extended to the testing Rockwell & Vickers hardness testing
*Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore

52 Journal of Pakistan Institute of Chemical Engineers Vol. XXXVII
machines and for tensile testing a universal HARDNESS TESTING

testing machine were used respectively. Specimens
for microscopic examination were prepared using ROCKWELL(HRA) VICKER
standard metallographic procedures. As received 53.75 173.5
Results And Dicussions Oil Water Oil Water
Hardness testing results of as received, as As quenched 55.5 68.55 232.33 476

quenched and tempered specimens are given in Tempering
Table 1. It may be seen that the hardness of as temperature ºC
received specimen increased from 53.75 HRA to 150 49.35 56 190.5 245
55.5HRA and 68.55 HRA during oil and water
250 47 49.5 187 228
quenching respectively. However, the hardness
value somewhat decreased during tempering in 350 46.4 49 186 208
the entire temperature range. Similar 450 46.2 47.4 180 200
observations can be made from vicker hardness
550 44 45.4 175.5 181.66
testing results. Tensile testing results are given in
Table 2 . Once again it may be seen from table 2 The results which are reported above indicate
that the strength and hardness of this particular
that UTS of as received specimen increased to a
mild steel may be successfully increased by
higher value 872.75MPa during oil quenching and
quenching it in both oil and water quenching
a much higher water quenching. However, a media. As mentioned earlier that these steels can
decrease in UTS values is observed during undergo self-tempering during quenching and
tempering at all temperatures. Results of %age therefore do not perhaps require a second
elongation which are given in Table 2 , show some tempering, appear to be true in present work as
decrease in %age elongation during both oil and well, because the results of second tempering did
not show any improvement in ductility with
water quenching. But no increase in elongation
decrease in strength and hardness.
has been seen during tempering.
Table 2
TENSILE TESTING
UTS(N/mm^2) %Age elongation
As received 853.89
Oil Water
UTS(N/mm2) %Age elongation UTS(N/mm2) %Age elongation

As quenched 872.75 20.1 As quenched 1096.38 23.6
Tempering Tempering
temperature temperature
150 ºC 629.91 23.7 150 ºC 732.83 23.6
350 ºC 618.48 25.7 450 ºC 656.44 25.5
550 ºC 579.02 32.2 550 ºC 636.51 28.4
Table 1
2009 Tehreem Kanwal, Rabia Nazir, Saba Zulqernain, A. Salam, Javaid Ahmad 53
Conclusion: 5. The microstructures corresponding as

received, oil and water quenched
Following conclusions may be drawn from above specimens shows a transformation of two
work. phase ferrite+pearlite structure to a
1. The 0.2% C low carbon steels which were partially martensitic structure, during the
heat treated in this work showed a quenching process.
reasonable increase in both hardness and References
strength during oil and water quenching.
1. Introduction to physical metallurgy by Sidney
2. The hardness of as received specimens H Avener
increased from 53.75HRA to a maximum of
2. Materials science and engineering an
68.65HRA during water quenching.
Introduction by William D. Callister, JR.
3. The UTS of as received specimen increased 3. St eels and its heat treatment by K.E.
from 853.89MPa to maximum of Thenling
1096.38MPa during water quenching.
4. The Book of Steel by Guy Henry, Germain
4. Tempering of both oil and water quench Sanz
specimen resulted in a decrease in both 5. Journal of Applied Sciences Research © 2007,
hardness and strength in the entire range INSInet Publication
of tempering temperatures. Effect of
tempering on ductility was not very clear.
53

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Quench Hardening and Tempering Behaviour of

A Low Carbon Steel

Introduction study of tempering behaviour of these quenched

*Faculty of Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore

machines and for tensile testing a universal HARDNESS TESTING

standard metallographic procedures. As received 53.75 173.5

Results And Dicussions Oil Water Oil Water

Hardness testing results of as received, as As quenched 55.5 68.55 232.33 476

UTS(N/mm2) %Age elongation UTS(N/mm2) %Age elongation

Conclusion: 5. The microstructures corresponding as

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