Mapua University

Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

SHOP PRACTICE NO. 9

QUENCHING AND TEMPERING

DEL ROSARIO, Kurt Ivan R.

ME- 2

ME137L/A2
GRADE
2015100924

Engr. Jose V. Hernandez

Instructor
OBJECTIVE:

1. To be able to apply the process of quenching metal.

2. To be able to apply tempering process for metals.
3. To be able to apply knowledge learn in Engineering Materials.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS:

Quenching is the process that greatly affects the stress and strain set-up in the metal. The
metal heated and immerse in the solution. After immersion a part of work is move around the
quenching solution in the form of figure 8 motion, this keep the temperature uniform to attain
uniform hardness.
Tempering is another quenching method but the treating is done below critical temperature
and cooling it by means of quenching oil or by air. This improves the toughness but reduces the
hardness and tensile strength.

MATERIALS:

Set of hairpins

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO BE USED:

Quenching solution – for quenching treatment

Mini-mite furnace – for heating and melting metals
Acetylene set – for fusing metal and heating metal
Quenching bath – for quenching purposes

PROCEDURE:
1. Set-up the acetylene.
2. Clean the nozzle on the head.
3. Securely fasten the "head" of the torch on the end of the hoses.
4. Tighten both valves on the "head" that you just secured in the socket.
5. Turn on your valves on the tanks.
6. Turn on the Acetylene valve until you hear a slight hiss of gas from the nozzle.
7. Take your flit lighter and light the torch. This should produce a dark red-orange flame
which puts out very putrid black smoke.
8. Now, slowly turn on the valve that controls your oxygen, until you see the flame change.
The flame should be blue with a white inside tip. The inner, white tip should measure
around 3⁄8 inch (1.0 cm) long.
9. Heat the hair pin until you will see a red color. Be sure that it will not melt.
 10. For quenching, quickly submerge the hairpin into the water. Notice that it will make the
hairpin brittle or break into two.
11. Repeat step 9 for another hairpin. For tempering, let it cool in air. Notice that it will make
the hairpin stretch and not able to go back to its original state.
12. Repeat step 9 for another hairpin and slowly submerged it into the water. This will make
the hairpin go back to its original state.
13. Finish.

DRAWING

QUENCHING SET-UP

QUESTIONS:

1. What is quenching?

Quenching is the rapid cooling of a workpiece to obtain certain material properties. A

type of heat treating, quenching prevents undesired low-temperature processes, such as phase
transformations, from occurring. It does this by reducing the window of time during which
these undesired reactions are both thermodynamically favorable, and kinetically accessible;
for instance, quenching can reduce the crystal grain size of both metallic and plastic materials,
increasing their hardness.
2. Is there a need to quench the material? Why?

It depends. Material is heated to the suitable temperature for hardening, then cooled
rapidly by immersing the hot part is water, oil or another suitable liquid to transform the
material to a fully hardened structure. Parts which are quenched usually must be aged,
tempered or stress relieved to achieve the proper toughness, final hardness and dimensional
stability.

3. What is tempering? What is the significance of it?

Tempering is usually performed after hardening, to reduce some of the excess hardness,
and is done by heating the metal to some temperature below the critical point for a certain
period of time, then allowing it to cool in still air. It is significant because it increases the
toughness of iron-based alloys.

4. What characteristics of the material are affected by quenching?

Studies have shown that low carbon steel such as mild steel can be strengthened
through heat treatment, while quenching after heat treatment improves the mechanical
properties of the steel material. For most metallic materials, the high-cycle resistances are
dominated by the strength and ductility, respectively.

5. What is the effect of rapid cooling?

Extremely rapid cooling can prevent the formation of a crystal structure, resulting
in amorphous metal or "metallic glass.”

6. Is the drawing temperature are the same in all steel?

No. High-speed steel must be heated to a much higher temperature than carbon steel.
A temperature of from 1400 degrees to 1600 degrees F. is sufficient for carbon steel; high-
speed steel requires from 1800 degrees to 2200 degrees F. The usual method of hardening a
high-speed steel tool, such as a turning or planing tool, is to heat the cutting end slowly to a
temperature of about 1800 degrees F., and then more rapidly to about 2200 degrees F., or until
the end is at a dazzling white heat and shows signs of melting down.

7. Can you cut the steel metal by means of hacksaw?

The hacksaw is used to cut steel and other metals. It can also be used to cut plastics,
although it is not normally used to cut woods. The required teeth per inch is 24 TPI just for
cutting steel plate up to 5/6 mm.
 8. What is the difference between austenite and martensite?

Austenite is a high-temperature phase of plain steel, which recrystallizes into

ferrite/pearlite around 1425°F (depending on chemistry), below which ferrite becomes the
more stable phase. Certain alloy elements, most notably nickel, are able to stabilize the
austenite phase down to room temperature. Martensite is a meta-stable phase that is formed
when high-temperature austenite is quickly quenched below a critical temperature (that
changes depending on chemistry). It is characterized by its extremely high strength, low
fracture resistance, and low ductility.

DISCUSSION:

Heat treatment is a controlled process used to alter the microstructure of metals and alloys
such as steel and aluminum to impart properties which benefit the working life of a component,
for example increased surface hardness, temperature resistance, ductility and strength.

Quenching is most commonly used to harden steel by introducing martensite, in which case
the steel must be rapidly cooled through its eutectoid point, the temperature at which austenite
becomes unstable. Tempering is a process of heat treating, which is used to increase the toughness
of iron-based alloys. Tempering is usually performed after hardening, to reduce some of the excess
hardness, and is done by heating the metal to some temperature below the critical point for a certain
period of time, then allowing it to cool in still air.

This shop exercise aims to apply the process of quenching metal, and be able to apply
tempering process for metal. Even though we already have the knowledge about heat treatment
process beforehand, the professor still discussed it. In addition, the proper usage of the oxy-
acetylene set was also taught to us. The professor demonstrated different heat treatment processes
such as annealing, hardening, quenching and tempering. The metal used was hair pins.

Our professor showed us how the tempering and quenching is done using hairpin as a
sample metal. We were able to observe the hairpin break, stretch and return to its original state. In
hardening, the hairpin was heated and then rapidly submerged in water, it was easy to break. In
annealing, it was cooled in air, the hairpin was easy to stretch. In tempering, the hairpin was heated
then slowly submerged in water, it will not break.

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION:

By the end of the meeting, we were able to see how quenching and tempering is done and
were able also to see how the oxy-acetylene was being set-up. Using different kinds of heat
treatment, we were able to learn why the quenching and tempering is done and able to see the
hairpins break and stretch and return to its original state.

To those who will execute this shop exercise, I recommend that you should listen
attentively to the demonstration in order to know the proper usage and techniques in the different
heat treatment process. In addition, I recommend that you should know the safety and precautions
to avoid accidents.

REFERENCES:
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quenching
 http://www.metlabheattreat.com/metal-hardening-metal-quenching-metal-tempering.html
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempering_(metallurgy)
 https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060825095359AAAUGL1
 https://www.aatprod.com/hrf_faq/what-is-the-difference-between-austenitic-ferritic-and-
martensic-stainless/
 http://www.zianet.com/ebear/metal/heattreat3.html
 http://www.technologystudent.com/equip_flsh/hacksw1.html
 https://nayhan.wordpress.com/pearlite-martensite-austenite-dan-bainite/
 http://www.bodycote.com/en/services/heat-treatment.aspx