TITLE

THE JOMINY END-QUENCH TEST

ABSTRACT

In this experiment (The Jominy End – Quench Test), it is conducted in order to find the relation
between hardness to the cooling rate of the specimen after been heated (quenching) by using the
Jominy test method. By performing this experiment, student should be able to understand the
changes of microstructure due to the cooling rate of the specimen after been quenched using
Jominy End – Quench test method. This experiment need to follow the procedure stated and
listed in the lab sheet with supervision of the superior/staff and the method used “Heat and Drop”
and all the procedure must be done with cautious. From the result, the group managed to plot the
graph of hardness against distance from quenched end. The group also observed and labelled
the microstructure of the each section of the quenched steel.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... 1

TABLE OF CONTENT .......................................................................................................... 2

LIST OF FIGURE .................................................................................................................. 3

LIST OF TABLE ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

2.0 THEORY…………………………………………………………………………………………..4

3.0 PROCEDURE…………………………………………………………………………………….5

3.1 QUENCHING……………..……………………………………………………………………5
3.2 .OBSERVATION……………………………………………………………….……..………..5
3.3 HARDNESS TEST…………………………………………………………………………….6

4.0 RESULT…………………………………………………………………………………………...8

5.0 DISCUSSION……………………………………………………………………………………11

6.0 CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................. 12

7.0 REFERENCE ................................................................................................................ 13

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LIST OF FIGURE

Figure 1: Control of the variables for Jominy Test ................................................................. 6

Figure 2: The diagonal of marking Vicker’s Hardness Test Machine ..................................... 7
Figure 3: Specimen for hardness test .................................................................................... 7

LIST OF TABLE

Table 1: Result obtained ....................................................................................................... 8

Table 2: Hardness vs Distance Graph .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

In engineering field, the properties and behavior of metal and alloy play a vital especially
during manufacturing and performance in their service life. The Jominy end quench test is a
standardized test (ASTM A255) used to determine the hardenability of a steel specimen. If
austenitizing of steel is performed correctly, the transformation to the hard martensite phase is
controlled mainly by carbon and alloy content along with quench rate. The hardenability of steel
refers to the amount of martensite formed during cooling as the depth into the part increases.
Steel with high hardenability will have a high percentage of martensite at the center of the part as
well as the surface which will yield high hardness readings. These steels are often referred to as
“through hardening”. The Jominy end quench test allows uniform samples of steel to be tested to
determine hardenability. The test provides water quenching on one end of a steel specimen, and
essentially air cooling on the other end. In this manner, various quench rates can be tested by
conducting hardness measurements along the length of the sample.

2.0 THEORY

There are many ways to strengthening steel. The key element that makes steel a steel is
the addition of carbon. Carbon, or in the form of Cementite (Fe C) 3, exponentially improves
the strength of steel. There are two different structures of martensites, lath and plate
martensite, which form depending on the carbon content of the steel. Low carbon content (<
6.0 %) is conducive to lath martensite which consists of flat, narrow bundles tightly knit next
to each other. Higher carbon content (> 6.0 %), on the other hand, is conducive to form plate
martensite which, as its name suggests, consists of larger flat, narrow plates. Slower cooling
rates like 40 C sec o for 1080 steel and 3.0 C sec o for 4340 steel allow the formation of
martensite plus pearlite. 11 martensite plus bainite, respectively. It should also be noted the
significant difference of cooling rates between the nonresulphurized carbon steel and the
1.8% nickel, 0.5-0.8% chromium, 0.25% molybdenum. In respect to hardenability and
considering current cooling techniques and limitations, the 0.25%molybdenum exhibits much
more favorable hardenability properties than the nonresulphurized carbon steel series. The
steel is heated to its austenizing temperature and placed in a Jominy Quench Tank which
constantly sprays water on the bottom of the sample. The water rapidly quenches one end of
the sample whereas the other end is cooled in the air at a slower rate.

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3.0 PROCEDURE

QUENCHING

1. The specimen is heated in the furnace until the temperature reaches 900oC.
2. Before performing the test, adjust the water flow until the height reaches approximately
65mm (21/2”). Figure 1a shows that the vertical free height of the unobstructed water
fountain and the distance between the water outlet and the end of the specimen when it
is in place.
3. Once the specimen is removed from the furnace, it should be placed in the quenching
apparatus and the water applied within 5.5 sec; care should be taken that the water strikes
only the bottom of the specimen as shown in figure 1b.
4. The specimen should be left in the quenching unit for few minutes until it cools. Then
immerse it in water for 30 minutes to ensure the homogeneity of the microstructure and
easy for handle it.

OBSERVATON

5. After the specimen has cooled, longitudinal flat surfaces are ground on the side to remove
decarburization layer. The microstructure along the specimen length is observed by using
optical microscope.

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HARDNESS TEST

6. Vickers hardness (1kg) readings are taken at 1mm intervals for the first 10mm, 5 mm
interval for next 40mm and 10mm intervals for the remaining 50mm length of the
specimen.
7. The distance between a corner to corner is measured, D1 and D2 (figure 2). Then the
average is calculated. Lastly refer the table vicker hardness number to determine the
hardness value.

5-30C water

( a ) Unobstructed fountain ( b ) Specimen in place

Figure 1: Control of the variables for the Jominy test.

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Figure 2: The diagonal of marking Vicker’s Hardness Test Machine

Figure 3: Specimen for hardness test

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4.0 RESULT

Distance, mm D1 D2 Hardness, HV
1 67.2 69.8 394.9
2 72 72.5 355.1
3 77.1 77.1 321.1
4 90.1 89.8 229.2
5 91.7 89.9 225.1
6 93.4 91.2 217.7
7 97.5 93.4 203.6
8 96 96.9 199.3
9 97.5 97.6 194.9
10 96 99.7 193.6
15 100.5 97.9 188.5
20 100 98.8 187.8
25 105.1 101.4 174.1
30 100 108.1 167.6
35 108.5 105.8 161.5
40 107.2 110.5 156.5
45 108.8 106.6 159.9
50 113.2 113.5 144.3
60 115.6 114.4 140.6
70 115.3 115 139.9
80 115 121.2 133
90 119.6 116.4 131.6
100 116.6 123.8 128.4

Table 1: Result obtained

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Theoritical method to determine Hardness,(HV)

D2

D1

Data from Table 1:

Distance = 25 mm
D1 =108.8 mm
D2 = 106.4 mm
Sample calculation:
D1  D2
D
2
108.8  106.4
D
2
D  107.6mm
Refer Table for Vickers Hardness numbers corresponding to D = 107.6mm, get HV=160.2

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 Hardness Vs Distance

450

400

350

300

250 Hardeness, HV

200

150

100

50

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Table 2: Hardness vs Distance Graph

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7.0 REFERENCES

i). Materials Science and Engineering an Introduction, William D. Callister, Jr, 6th Edition John
Wiley & Sons, Inc

ii). Materials Science and Engineering, George E. Dieter, 3rd edition McGraw-Hill

iii). http://www.key-to-steel.com/Articles/Art155.htm

iv). http://www.cashenblades.com

v). http://www.thermotech.co.uk/resources/Steel-Heat_Treatment-05.pdf

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