5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test

DoITPoMS

The Jominy End Quench Test

Click here for actual (non-printable) TLP pages

Note: DoITPoMS Teaching and Learning Packages are intended to b e used interactively at a computer! This print-friendly version of the
TLP is provided for convenience, b ut does not display all the content of the TLP. For example, any video clips and answers to questions
are missing. The formatting (page b reaks, etc) of the printed version is unpredictab le and highly dependent on your b rowser.

Contents
Aims
Introduction
Hardenability
Jominy end quench test
Video clips of the Jominy test procedure
Uses of Jominy data: Measurement of hardenability
Uses of Jominy data: Effects of alloying and microstructure
Example Jominy end quench test data
Heat flow simulation
Quench test simulation
Summary
Questions
Going further

Aims
On completion of this TLP you should:

be able to describe how the Jominy test is conducted and how the information that it provides is obtained and presented
be able to describe the general effects of alloying and prior heat treatment on the jominy test results

Introduction
The Jominy end quench test is used to measure the hardenability of a steel, which is a measure of the capacity of the steel to harden in
depth under a given set of conditions. This TLP considers the basic concepts of hardenability and the Jominy test.

Knowledge about the hardenability of steels is necessary to be able to select the appropriate combination of alloy steel and heat
treatment to manufacture components of different size to minimize thermal stresses and distortion. The Jominy end quench test is the
standard method for measuring the hardenability of steels. This describes the ability of the steel to be hardened in depth by quenching.

Hardenability depends on the chemical composition of the steel and also be can affected by prior processing conditions, such as the
austenitizing temperature. It is not only necessary to understand the basic information provided from the Jominy test, but also to
appreciate how the information obtained can be used to understand the effects of alloying in steels and the steel microstructure.

Hardenability
Hardenability is the ability of a steel to partially or completely transform from austenite to some fraction of martensite at a given depth
below the surface, when cooled under a given condition. For example, a steel of a high hardenability can transform to a high fraction of
martensite to depths of several millimetres under relatively slow cooling, such as an oil quench, whereas a steel of low hardenability

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 1/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test
may only form a high fraction of martensite to a depth of less than a millimetre, even under rapid cooling such as a water quench.
Hardenability therefore describes the capacity of the steel to harden in depth under a given set of conditions.

Steels with high hardenability are needed for large high strength components, such as large extruder screws for injection moulding of
polymers, pistons for rock breakers, mine shaft supports, aircraft undercarriages, and also for small high precision components such
as die-casting moulds, drills and presses for stamping coins. High hardenability allows slower quenches to be used (e.g. oil quench),
which reduces the distortion and residual stress from thermal gradients.

Steels with low hardenability may be used for smaller components, such as chisels and shears, or for surface hardened components
such as gears.

Hardenability can be measured using the Jominy end quench test.

Jominy end quench test

The test sample is a cylinder with a length of 102 mm (4 inches) and a diameter of 25.4 mm (1 inch).

Jominy test specimen

The steel sample is normalised to eliminate differences in microstructure due to previous forging, and then austenitised. This is usually
at a temperature of 800 to 900°C. The test sample is quickly transferred to the test machine, where it is held vertically and sprayed with
a controlled flow of water onto one end of the sample. This cools the specimen from one end, simulating the effect of quenching a
larger steel component in water.

Jominy test machine

The cooling rate varies along the length of the sample from very rapid at the quenched end, to rates equivalent to air cooling at the other
end.

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 2/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test

The round specimen is then ground flat along its length to a depth of 0.38 mm (15 thousandths of an inch) to remove decarburised
material. The hardness is measured at intervals from the quenched end. The interval is typically 1.5 mm for alloy steels and 0.75 mm
for carbon steels.

High hardness occurs where high volume fractions of martensite develop. Lower hardness indicates transformation to bainite or
ferrite/pearlite microstructures.

M artensite Ferrite/pearlite

Jominy end quench hardness data for two steels of different hardenability can be seen in a later section of this TLP, with images of the
microstructure variation along the length of the sample.

Similar tests have been developed in other countries, such as the SAC test, which uses a sample quenched from all sides by
immersion in water. This is commonly used in the USA.

Video clips of the Jominy test procedure

Help on viewing video clips

Video clip 1: Transferring the sample from furnace to quenching machine

The specimen is suspended from a wire and held in a furnace to austenitise the microstructure at around 900°C. It is then carefully and
quickly moved to the quenching machine and positioned above a water jet.The water jet is started and sprayed onto the bottom of the
specimen until the specimen is cool.

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 3/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test

0:00 / 0:16

Transferring the sample from furnace to quenching machine

Video clip 2: Quenching the sample

As the water jet sprays onto the end of the hot, glowing specimen, a cold dark region spreads up the specimen. The cold region has
transformed from austenite to a mixture of martensite, ferrite and pearlite. The proportions of the phases at any position depends on
the cooling rate, with more martensite formed where the cooling rate is fastest. Ferrite and pearlite are formed where the cooling rate is
slower.

0:00 / 0:16

Quenching the sample

Video clip 3: Jominy end quench test

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 4/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test
This alternative longer video clip (contributed by Oxford Brookes University) shows both the transfer of the sample from furnace to
Jominy machine, and the jet spraying one end of the sample.

0:00 / 0:54

Jominy end quench test

Uses of Jominy data: Measurement of hardenability

Data from the Jominy end quench test can be used to determine whether a particular steel can be sufficiently hardened in different
quenching media, for different section diameters.

For example, the cooling rate at a distance of 9.8 mm from the quenched end is equivalent to the cooling rate at the centre of an oil-
quenched bar with a diameter of 28 mm. Full transformation to martensite in the Jominy specimen at this position indicates that a
28 mm diameter bar can be through hardened, i.e. hardened through its full thickness.

A high hardenability is required for through hardening of large components. This data can be presented using CCT (Continuous
Cooling Transformation) diagrams which are used to select steels to suit the component size and quenching media. Slow quenching
speeds are often chosen to reduce distortion and residual stress in components.

CCT diagram for an alloy steel

Slower cooling rates occur at the core of larger components, compared to the faster cooling rate at the surface. In the example here, the
surface will be transformed to martensite, but the core will have a bainitic structure with some martensite.

Uses of Jominy data: Effects of alloying and microstructure

Jominy end quench test can also be used to demonstrate the effects of microstructure and alloying variables on the hardenability of
steels. These include alloying elements and grain size.

Alloying elements.
The main alloying elements which affect hardenability are carbon, boron and a group of elements including Cr, Mn, Mo, Si and Ni.

Carbon

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 5/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test
Carbon controls the hardness of the martensite. Increasing the carbon content increases the hardness of steels up to about 0.6wt%. At
higher carbon levels, the formation of martensite is depressed to lower temperatures and the transformation from austenite to
martensite may be incomplete, leading to retained austenite. This composite microstructure of martensite and austenite gives a lower
hardness to the steel, although the microhardness of the martensite phase itself is still high.

Effect of carbon content (wt%) on hardness

Carbon also increases the hardenability of steels by retarding the formation of pearlite and ferrite. However, the effect is too small be be
commonly used for control of hardenability. High carbon steels are prone to distortion and cracking during heat treatment, and can be
difficult to machine in the annealed condition before heat treatment. It is more common to control hardenability with other elements, and
to use carbon levels of less than 0.4wt%.

Boron

Boron is a very potent alloying element, typically requiring 0.002 to 0.003wt% to have an equivalent effect as 0.5wt% Mo. The effect of
boron is also independent of the amount of boron, provided sufficient is added, and the effect of boron is greatest at lower carbon
contents. It is typically used with lower carbon steels.

Boron has a very strong affinity for oxygen and nitrogen, with which it forms compounds. Boron can therefore only affect the hardenability
of steels if it is in solution. This requires the addition of "gettering" elements such as aluminium and titanium to react preferentially with
the oxygen and nitrogen in the steel.

Chromium, molybdenum, manganese, silicon, nickel, vanadium

The elements Cr, Mo, Mn, Si, Ni and V all retard the phase transformation from austenite to ferrite and pearlite. The most commonly
used elements are Cr, Mo and Mn.

The retardation is due to the need for redistribution of the alloying elements during the diffusional phase transformation from austenite
to ferrite and pearlite. The solubility of the elements varies between the different phases, and the interface between the growing phase
cannot move without diffusion of the slowly moving elements. There are quite complex interactions between the different elements,
which also affect the temperatures of the phase transformation and the resultant microstructure. Steel compositions are sometimes
described in terms of a carb on equivalent which describes the magnitude of the effect of all of the elements on hardenability.

Grain size
Increasing the austenite grain size increases the hardenability of steels. The nucleation of ferrite and pearlite occurs at heterogeneous
nucleation sites such as the austenite grain boundaries. Increasing the austenite grain size therefore decreases the available
nucleation sites, which retards the rate of the phase transformation. This method of increasing the hardenability is rarely used since
substantial increases in hardenability require large austenite grain size, obtained through high austenitisation temperatures. The
resultant microstructure is quite coarse, with reduced toughness and ductility.

Effect of austenite grain size on hardenability

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 6/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test
The austenite grain size can be affected by other stages in the processing of steel, and therefore the hardenability of a steel also
depends on the previous stages employed in its production.

Example Jominy end quench test data

A plain carbon steel and an alloy steel were assessed using the Jominy end quench test.

The hardness of the samples was measured as a function of the distance from the quenched end to demonstrate the different
hardenability of the two steels. The data is shown as Vickers and Rockwell hardness.

The alloy compositions are given in the table below.

(wt%) C Mn Cr Ni Si Mo P S

Plain carbon Steel 0.3 0.7 0.1 0.14 0.26 0.03 0.003 0.02
Alloy steel 0.3 0.6 0.7 3.5 0.26 0.35 0.01

Vickers Hardness
The Vickers hardness test uses a square pyramidal diamond indentor. The recorded hardness depends on the indentation load and
the width of the square indentation made by the diamond. The indentation load is typically between 10 and 30 kg. The hardness
number is usually denoted by HV20 for Hardness Vickers 20 kg, for example. The Vickers test is most commonly used in the UK. The
Rockwell hardness of a metal can also be determined using a similar technique.

The variation of hardness was measured with distance from the quenched end. The results are plotted in the graph below. Click on the
circled data points to see how the microstructure varies with distance from the quenched end.

The alloy steel clearly has the highest hardenability, forming martensite to a greater depth than the plain carbon steel. Look at both the
microstructures at high magnification, and try to observe the relationship between the volume fraction of martensite and the hardness
of the steel.

Rockwell Hardness
The Vickers hardness scale is not the only scale used to measure hardness in metals.

The Rockwell hardness test measures a number which depends on the difference in the depth of an indentation made by two loads, a
minor load followed by a major load. There are different scales for the Rockwell hardness test. For example, the commonly used
Rockwell C test uses a minor load of 10 kg, followed by a major load of 150 kg. The number is denoted as HRC for Hardness Rockwell
C scale. The indentor is either a conical diamond pyramid, or a hardened steel ball. The Rockwell test is commonly used in the USA.

Other tests include the Brinell and Knoop hardness tests.

There are conversion charts between the hardness scales. These can be found in standards, such as the British Standards, and
reference works such as the ASM Metals handbook. It's important to use the correct conversion chart for different materials, since the
hardness test causes plastic strain, and therefore varies with the strain hardening properties of the material.

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 7/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test
The graph below gives the Jominy end quench data in terms of the Rockwell hardness number. Clicking on the circled data points will
take you to images of the microstructure at that location in the sample.

Heat flow simulation

In this heat flow simulation you can adjust various parameters and observe the effect on the heat flow and cooling of the specimen. The
simulation ignores the effect of heat loss from the sides of the specimen, i.e. it employs a one-dimensional model of heat flow through
the specimen.

The bar is divided into 25 equal length elements, and, at each time step of the simulation, for each element, a new temperature,
resulting from heat transfer at either end, is calculated. The size of the time step is set to the maximum allowed while ensuring
numerical stability of the simulation.

Note: This animation requires Adob e Flash Player 8 and later, which can b e downloaded here.

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 8/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test

Quench test simulation

In this simulation (courtesy of SteelMATTER, where it is also available), you can follow through the stages in carrying out a Jominy end
quench test.

The Jominy Test involves heating a test piece from the steel (25mm diameter and 100mm long) to an austenitising temperature and
quenching from one end with a controlled and standardised jet of water. Take a sample from the furnace and place it on the Jominy test
fixtures and observe the cooling pattern.

After quenching the hardness profile is measured at intervals from the quenched end after the surface has been ground back to
remove any effects of decarburisation (0.38mm is removed from the surface).

The hardness variation along the test surface is a result of microstructural variation which arises since the cooling rate decreases with
distance from the quenched end. The cooling rate along the Jominy test specimen varies from about 225 °C s -1 to 2 °C s -1 .

Note: this simulation requires a Java-enab led b rowser.

Summary
The Jominy end quench test is the standard method for measuring the hardenability of steels. This 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 prior
processing, such as the austenitisation 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 minimise thermal stresses and distortion.

Questions

1. Three low alloy steels, which differ only in their carbon content (0.1, 0.3 and 0.7 wt% carbon) are characterised using the Jominy
end quench test. Select the plot of hardness variation along the test specimen that best describes their behaviour.

a Plot (a)

b Plot (b)

c Plot (c)

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 9/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test
d Plot (d)

Answer

2. Two specimens of a low alloy steel with 0.3wt% carbon are characterised using the Jominy end quench test. One was
austenitised at 950°C, and the other was austenitised at 1100°C. Select the plot of hardness variation along the test specimen
that best describes their behaviour.

a Plot (a)

b Plot (b)

c Plot (c)

d Plot (d)

Answer

3. Three medium carbon steels (0.3wt%) that differ only in their Chromium content (0.25, 0.5 and 1 wt%) are characterised using the
Jominy end quench test. Select the plot of hardness variation along the test specimen that best describes their behaviour.

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 10/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test

a Plot (a)

b Plot (b)

c Plot (c)

d Plot (d)

Answer

4. You have three steels. Select the most appropriate steel to achieve the necessary levels of mechanical properties, residual stress
and distortion in a 1mm diameter wood-working drill.

a 1% C, 0.4% Si, 1% Mn, 5% Cr, 1% Mo

b 0.4% C, 0.4% Mn, 0.3% Si

c 0.5% C, 4% Cr, 6% Mo

Answer

5. Again, you have three steels. Select the most appropriate steel to achieve the necessary levels of mechanical properties, residual
stress and distortion in an injection moulding die for a mobile phone plastic case.

a 1% C, 0.4% Si, 1% Mn, 5% Cr, 1% Mo

b 0.4% C, 0.4% Mn, 0.3% Si

c 0.5% C, 4% Cr, 6% Mo

Answer

6. Again, you have three steels. Select the most appropriate steel to achieve the necessary levels of mechanical properties, residual
stress and distortion in a tool for high speed milling of steel components.

a 1% C, 0.4% Si, 1% Mn, 5% Cr, 1% Mo

b 0.4% C, 0.4% Mn, 0.3% Si

c 0.5% C, 4% Cr, 6% Mo

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 11/12
5/10/2020 DoITPoMS - TLP Library The Jominy End Quench Test
Answer

Going further
Reading
Honeycombe R W K and Bhadeshia H K D H, Steels: Microstructure and Properties, Edward Arnold, 1995.
Thelning, Karl-Erik, Steel and its Heat Treatment, Butterworths, 1975.
Llewellyn D T and Hudd R C, Steels: Metallurgy and Applications, 3rd Edition, Reed Educational and Professional Publishing,
1998.
ASM Handbook, Volume 4: Heat Treating, ASM International, 1991.

Websites
Understanding The Jominy End Quench Test
An article by James Marrow published on the Industrial Heating website, 9/7/2001. Much of the material is in common with the
above website and this TLP.
Jominy hardenability (quench) test
Part of the SteelMATTER website, this page has a Java applet simulation which allows you to perform a series of Jominy end
quench tests on different grades of steel to see how composition affects hardenability.
Jominy Testing: The Practical Side
An article by Daniel Herring also published on the Industrial Heating website, 10/10/2001.

Academic consultant: James Marrow (University of Cambridge)

Content development: James Marrow, Justin McCarthy
Photography and video: Manchester Materials Science Centre, John Durodola
Web development: James Marrow and Dave Hudson

This TLP was prepared when DoITPoMS was funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the
Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) under the Fund for the Development of Teaching and Learning (FDTL).

https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/jominy/printall.php 12/12