Me Experiment 7

Heat Treatment of Steel

Purpose
The purpose of Experiment 5 is to study how transformations affect the microstructure and
mechanical properties of steel.
Apparatus
Universal testing machine, micrometer, Rockwell hardness tester, furnaces, Charpy impacttesting machine, cut-off saw, mounting press
Specimens
Five 4140 HR V-notch Charpy Specimens.
Background
The various microstructures that can be produced in alloy steel are very useful in controlling the
mechanical properties. The heat treatment of steel involves the austenization process. The alloy
steel is converted into austenite by heating at austenization temperature, which is above 1500F,
840C for 4140 steel, for one hour. Cooling the steel from this temperature at different rates
produces different microstructures and hardness values.
The furnace cooling (extremely low cooling rate) from the austenization temperature will result
in proeutectoid ferrite and course pearlite for steels containing less than 0.76% by weight of
carbon. The furnace cooling can also result in proeutectoid cementite (Fe 3C) and course pearlite
for steels containing between 0.78 to 2.14 % by weight of carbon. Air cooling from the
austinized condition will also form the same basic phases except that the pearlite will more likely
result as fine pearlite instead of course pearlite. Pearlite is also formed when carbon steel is
cooled from an initial state of austenite at an environmental temperature between 1000F and
1341F.
As indicated, the pearlite microstructure consists of colonies of ferrite and cementite. Cementite
is much harder but more brittle than ferrite. Thus, increasing the content of cementite results in a
harder and stronger material. Fine pearlite exhibits greater hardness and strength than coarse
pearlite because dislocations must pass through more boundaries during plastic deformation.
Another micro constituent of the austenitic transformation is bainite, Bainite consists of a series
of needles of ferrite separated by elongated particles of cementite that are both surrounded by a
bed of martensite. Bainite is formed when carbon steel is cooled from an initial state of austenite
at an environmental temperature between 420F and 1000F. Bainitic steels are generally
stronger and harder than pearlitic ones.

The hardest, strongest and most brittle microstructure is martensite; it has negligible ductility. Its
strength and hardness are attributed to its atomic structure rather than microstructure. Martensite
is formed by water quenching the steel from the austenization temperature (above 1500F).
Martensite is a nonequilibrium single-phase structure that results in diffusionless transformation
of austenite. Martensite, when heated to a temperature below the eutectoid temperature (480F to
1200F), will gradually transform its single-phase austenitic structure into tempered martensite
consisting of two stabilized phases of ferrite (Fe) and cementite (Fe3C).
Spheroidite is formed from a steel alloy having either pearlite or bainite microstructures when
heated to, or left at, a temperature below the eutectoid (about 1300F) for a sufficiently long time
(18 to 24 hours). The microstructure of spheroidite appears like Fe3C sphere-like particles
embedded in a continuous phase of ferrite. There is less boundary area per unit volume in
spheroidite than in pearlite, and therefore this results in a relatively soft and weak material.
Hardness Testing: The Background for Hardness Testing is included in Experiment 1.
Impact Testing:The Background for Impact Testing is included in Experiment 2.
Procedure
This experiment involves one category, Impact testing. Each student shall prepare a report of the
type set forth in the course syllabus.
The heat treatment process includes five test specimens that shall be conducted simultaneously.
Once the Charpy Impact tests are completed, the five original specimens will have been formed
into a total of ten test specimens for further investigation. Individual students shall be assigned
one of the ten Charpy impact specimens for further work as outlined herein.
Charpy Impact Tests:
The impact energy, hardness, and microstructure of the quenched and tempered 4140 steel are to
be studied. Five Charpy V-notch impact specimens are provided.
CAUTION: Use tongs, goggles, and asbestos gloves when removing specimens from the
furnace because of the intense radiant heat and hot specimens.
NOTE:

Arrange the specimens in the numbered order as determined and specified

by the TA or mark all specimens with a Sharpie prior to placement in
furnace.

1. Place all the specimens in a furnace at 1650F for 45 minutes.

2. All specimens shall be labeled as indicated in Tables 2 and 3.
3. Withdraw the samples from the furnace and quench in water. The door of the furnace
must be closed promptly after all specimens are removed.
4. Tempering: Place one of the quenched samples in another furnace at 400F for 45
minutes and then quench in water again.

5. Tempering: Put one of the quenched samples in a furnace at 700F for 45 minutes and
then quench in water again.
6. Tempering: Put one of the quenched samples in a furnace at 1000F for 45 minutes and
then quench in water again.
7. Tempering: Put one of the quenched samples in a furnace at 1200F for 45 minutes and
then quench in water again.
8. Place the specimen under test in the anvil support of the Charpy impact tester and set the
pointer of the Charpy to the 300 mark.
9. Disengage the safety latch, release the hammer, and record the impact energy. Once the
hammer start to swing back from the highest position in the forward direction, pull the
brake to slow the pendulum. After each impact test, retrieve the specimen fragments.
10. When the impact testing is completed, place one fragment set (referred to as the second
fragment set) of each specimen in the furnace set at 1300F and leave for 24 hours. Then,
quench in water.
11. With the first fragment set of five broken specimens, use the cut-off saw to obtain a new
specimen section. Cut each first fragment set specimen in half.
12. With the first fragment set of five broken specimens, take five RC hardness readings near
the original free surface of the specimens.
13. Repeat Steps 11 and 12 above for the second fragment set of broken specimens.
14. Tabulate the impact energies and the RC values. Calculate the average RC and the standard
deviation and also tabulate.
15. Mount and label the specimens by the specimen numbers designated in Tables 2 and 3
with the Bakelite and/or the Epoxy methods as determined by the TAs.
16. Grind, polish, and etch all ten of the metallographic samples. Refer to ASTM E 407 for
proper etching agent in regards to each method.
SAFETY REQUIREMENT:
Safety precautions are absolutely required to protect your eyes and other body parts from being
severally damaged by direct exposure to the acids and oxidizers used for specimen etching. Each
student engaged in the specimen etching process is required to wear the protective gloves, eye
goggles, and aprons supplied in the laboratory. All other students are to maintain a distance of at
least 5-feet from the specimen etching area. This requirement will be strictly enforced.
17. Each student is to view all of the microstructures and obtain pictures from each for
completion of the Lab Report.
Analysis
Each student shall prepare a report of the type set forth in the course syllabus. The report shall
include the following data and analysis:
NOTE: The report is due to the instructor for review and grading within one-week from the
completion date of this experiment. For example, if the experiment is completed on a Tuesday,
the report is due the following Tuesday. This rule applies to all reports.

1. Complete Table 1 Rockwell Hardness Values based on data obtained from the
Rockwell hardness testing machine and include in Lab Report.
2. Complete Tables 2 and 3 based on data obtained during the Charpy Impact Test
portion of the experiment and include in Lab Report.
3. Based on the Table 2 and 3 data, summarize the effects of heat treatments as they
affect the physical properties of the material.
4. Based on the photographic views, establish the type of microstructure attained by
each test specimen (F1, F2, S1, etc.) and identify the findings in the columns listed in
Tables 2 and 3. Include for each photograph of the different microstructures a detailed
discussion that is supportive of the decision on each type of test specimen.
NOTE: 1.
In each of the columns labeled Resulting Microstructure in Tables 2 and 3, list in parenthesis
the Figure Number representative of the image shown in the Figures section of the Appendix. For
example, if S1 is bainite and the image representing S1 is Figure 4 in the Appendix, the
Resulting Microstructure section for S1 in Table 3 would show Bainite (Figure 4). If references
are also used of the figures found in other publications, the publications should be referenced.
2.

No handwriting is allowed in Lab Reports, so be sure that the included tables are typed.