Student ID: 9235733

Introduction:
This report discusses the mechanical performance of steel. In this two parts experiment we
examined the properties of heat treated steels and mechanical properties of steel over a
range of temperature. Steels are often heat treated to alter their properties in controlled
sequences, for specific engineering application. Heat treatment of steel uses phase
transformation to achieve certain properties by manipulating its carbon content. Heat
treatment begins with austenitisation which steels are heated to critical temperature and
cooled in different manners, which will result in different properties. Tensile test was carried
out to examine 4 080M46 steel coupons with different heat treatment conditions. In second
part of the experiment impact test was carried out on Grade 43a steel to study its toughness
over a range of temperature. Low carbon steel (bcc) is said to have ductile-to-brittle
transition temperature which can be critical in engineering application.

Experimental Methods:
Part 1- Heat Treatment of Steels
3 different types of cooling will be introduced. 3 out of 4 steel coupons will be treated by
annealing, oil-quenching, and water-quenching. The remaining coupon will undergoes
tensile test in as received condition as a reference. The 3 coupons are heated to 870 for 15
minutes. One is then set to furnace cooling and the other 2 are quenched in oil and water
respectively. Transferring of heated coupon to quenching liquid must be done quickly (1
sec). The 4 coupons will then undergo tensile test and 4 plots of load-displacement graph
are recorded. Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram of the steel will be used to
determine its microstructure at room temperature.
Part 2- The Ductile to Brittle Transitions in Steels
Charpy impact test is used to study the toughness of the steel. Liquid nitrogen will be used
to lower the temperature of specimen while boiling water is used to rise the temperature.
The temperature of the specimen is recorded by using temperature probe before the impact
test is carried out. Value of impact energy absorbed by the specimen can be directly
recorded from the dial plate. By plotting the impact energy against temperature graph we
can determine the transition temperature of the specimen. Note that value of impact energy
recorded is in unit of ft-lb, and it can be converted to joules by the formula
1.35581795 =
The graph is expected to be a smooth curve.

MACE20037 Materials 2

Student ID: 9235733

Result:
Part 1- Heat Treatment of Steels

Type of heat
treatment

*Yield Stress
Ultimate Tensile
Elongation(mm)
%
/Proof Stress
Strength (MPa)
elongation
(MPa)
As received
457.570
716.197
7.750
0.0775
Annealed
258.627
431.708
26.333
0.2633
Oil quenched
397.887
587.481
10.419
0.1042
Water quenched
1094.190
1456.864
9.920
0.0992
*Yield stresses are determined by approximation because of the difficulty in obtaining at 0.2%
offset.
Part 2- The Ductile to Brittle Transitions in Steels

Temperature
()

-60

-40

-20

-0.5

10

20.5

24

30

46.7

55

10.2

11.5

14.2

40.7

37.3

67.8

83.4

208.8

188.5

229.1

Impact energy
(J)

Graph of impact energy (J) against temperature ().

MACE20037 Materials 2

Student ID: 9235733

Discussion:
Part 1- Heat Treatment of Steels
1. Based on Fe-FE3C diagram, it is required to heat the steel above 870 in order for
transformation into austenite phase. It is necessary to keep the temperature for
period of time for carbon diffusion to take place. This is to develop homogenous
austenite.
2. Martensite and bainite might have formed.
3. 400/hour=0.1/s. From the CCT diagram, pearlite formed.
4. Water quenched specimen has higher yield stress and is stronger than the oil
quenched specimen. The result was as expected as water quenched specimen
undergoes faster cooling rate that oil quenched specimen, which makes water
quenched specimen stronger. From the graph it can be seen that both quenched
specimens show a slight ductile behaviour, which we believe it could be a result of a
slow loading condition. Besides that, density of the material will not be ideally
identical at each length of the specimen and its impossible to be totally eliminated.
5. Oil quenched specimen has higher yield stress than annealed specimen. This is
because martensite is formed in oil quenched specimen, which makes the specimen
harder but brittle. Annealed specimen lost some of its strength but gained more
ductility.
6. Relative toughness: Annealed > water quenched > as received > oil quenched. Note
that area under the graph for annealed and water quenched are almost similar. As
mentioned above, water quenched doesnt show high brittleness as expected,
possibly due to slow loading. As received specimen has high toughness than oil
quenched specimen because latter one shows less ductility. We emphasise on the
definition of toughness as the ability of a material to absorb energy before fracture,
which means it must be strong and ductile.
7. The quenched specimen should undergo tempering. Tempering is a controlled
heating process where material is heated to temperature below austenitisation
temperature but high enough for diffusion to occur and allows fine distribution of
Fe3C precipitates. This will partially restore the ductility of the material and makes it
tougher.

Part 2- The Ductile to Brittle Transitions in Steels

1. No. A more precise temperature measurement will be required by identify the
warming curve of the specimen. 10 set of values cannot clearly differentiate the
lower shelf and upper shelf temperatures. Friction between pendulum and its
support is not accounted for which doesnt contribute to toughness of material.
2. 28. Temperature before the start of the test was assumed to be the
instantaneous temperature of the specimen right before impact. Heat loss, air
resistance, and friction from dragging pointer and support are negligible. We
also assumed the properties of the specimen are uniform throughout the length.
The plot is assumed to be reliable.

MACE20037 Materials 2

Student ID: 9235733

3. Lower shelf and upper shelf temperature were not clearly identified. At each
temperature, only one experiment was carried out. Surrounding temperature was
not considered as it might not be the same when the machine is calibrated.
Instantaneous temperature during the cutting moment cannot be determined. Point
of contact might not be at the tip of the notch (thinness part of the specimen).
4. No. Based on the plot -20 is below the ductile to brittle transition temperature
(DBTT). The steel is dominated by brittle behaviour.
Conclusion:
This experiment helps me to a better understanding of heat treated steel and influence of
temperature on the toughness of steel. Generally martensite phase harden the steel but is
prone to brittle failure. This can be overcome by tempering the steel. Annealed steel has
better ductility but it has low yield stress. CCT diagram can be used to determine the
properties of a heat treated steel. Toughness is defined as the ability to absorb energy
before fracture. Steel shows a ductile to brittle transition temperature which could be vital
in engineering application. Below the DBTT, the steel shows brittle behaviour and can only
absorbs small amount of energy before fracture.

MACE20037 Materials 2