Program : EBML2103

Course : Engineering Materials

Code : EBML2103
Lab : Material Science& Heat Treatment (Block 2, Level 5)

Lab Sheet No : EXPERIMENT 1 (2)

Title : HEAT TREATMENT AND HARDNESS OF METALS

Introduction

In engineering field, the properties and behavior of metals and alloys play a vital role
especially during manufacturing and performance during their service life. The most
common example of properties enhancement is heat treatment of metals and alloys. Such
treatment modifies microstructure, producing variety of mechanical properties that are
important in manufacturing, such as improved formability and machinability.

Objectives

Upon completion of this experiment, students should be able to;

1. Understand the relation between hardness to the cooling rate of the specimen after
been heated (quenching) using the Jominy test method.
2. Understand microstructure changes to the cooling rate of the specimen after been
heated (quenching) using the Jominy test method.
One standard procedure that is widely used to measure hardenability of steel is the Jominy
end-quench test. In this test water is sprayed on one end of a bar of steel while it is hot. This
leads to a one dimensional heat transfer cooling. Except near the surface of the bar the
temperature is controlled by that flow along the length of the bar. Moving axially inward from
the quenched end of the bar, the temperature and the rate of change of temperature are
changing. The temperature is higher and the rate is slower away from the quenched end. If
hardness is measured as a function of distance from the end, a hardness profile can be
obtained which applies to any part made from the same steel.
Table Hardness level, corresponding dent measurement tabulated at length of steel bar

Distance (mm) D1um D2um Hardness (HV)

0 63.3 60.2 486.3
15 94.1 93.5 210.5
30 102.1 102.1 177.8
45 102.1 106.0 171.3
60 110.6 110.6 151.7
75 110.6 124.3 134.5
90 116.9 111.9 141.7

HARDNESS VS DISTANCE
600

500

400
Hardness (HV)

300

200

100

0
0 15 30 45 60 75 90
Distance (mm)

Graph 3.1: Hardenability curves for Jominy Test specimen between hardness and distance from
quenched end
 Discussion

As mentioned in Discussion, hardness can be desirable for a metal. A steel’s hardness

depends on many factors, mostly its phase (which depends on the alloy content and processing),
as well as grain size. When steel is rapidly cooled or quenched and has sufficient carbon content,
the iron forms a phase known as martensite, which has a high hardness. The hardness is also
indicative of tensile strength values.

Martensite only forms if the steel is cooled quickly enough, and the necessary cooling
rate varies between different steels. The Jominy sample is quenched at one end, and the distance
from the quench correlates with a specific cooling rate.

Hardenability speaks to the simplicity of martensite arrangement or the important cooling

rate, as it is simpler to cool gradually. This enables metallurgists to make the best possible
methods required for the designer to accomplish the ideal properties for a segment. Hardenability
is appeared as a bend of hardness plotted against cooling rate (Table 3.1). Plotting hardness
against extinguished end remove indicates hardenability bends for the example and the steel test
should be cooled quickly to shape martensite.
 DISTANCE VS GRAIN SIZE
140

120

100
Grain Size

80

60

40

20

0
0 15 30 45 60 75 90
Distance (mm)

Graph 3.2: Grain size curves for Jominy Test specimen between grain and distance from
quenched end
Conclusion

As a conclusion The Jominy test describes the ability of the steel to be hardened in depth by
quenching. The hardenability depends on the alloy composition of the steel, and can also be
affected by processing, such as the temperature. Knowledge of the hardenability of steels is
necessary in order to select the appropriate combination of alloy and heat treatment for
components of different size, to minimize thermal stresses and distortion. High hardness occurs
where high volume fractions of martensite develop. Lower hardness indicates transformation to
bainite or ferrite/pearlite microstructures. Hardening of steels can be understood by considering
that on cooling from high temperature, the austenite phase of the steel can transform to either
martensite or a mixture of ferrite and pearlite. The ferrite/pearlite reaction involves diffusion,
which takes time. However, the martensite transformation does not involve diffusion and
essentially is instantaneous. These two reactions are competitive, and martensite is obtained if
the cooling rate is fast enough to avoid the slower formation of ferrite and pearlite. In alloyed
steels, the ferrite/ pearlite reaction is further slowed down, which allows martensite to be
obtained using slower cooling rates. Transformation to another possible phase can be understood
in a similar way.

However, a few modifications to the technique are in order. One such improvement would be to
quench one of the test specimens in ice water and another specimen in water at ambient
temperature for an identical time interval. This would allow for a more direct demonstration of
the time and temperature constraints pertaining to material hardness. Another improvement
would be to use more than one type of material. Having a control and a heat treated specimen for
each type of material would demonstrate heat treatments’ affect on different materials.