Nov., 19x1.] U. S. BUREAU OF STANDARDS NOTES.

731

It is shown that for a very slow rate of heating this transfor-

mation is practically independent of carb,on content, and that it
then ends at about 260’ C. This temperature undoubtedly repre-
sents the end of the transition of martensite into the troostite of
tempering. The transformation is also closely associated with
the physical changes accompanying the tempering of hard-
ened steel.

A STUDY OF THE RELATION BETWEEN THE BRINELL HARD-

NESS AND THE GRAIN SIZE OF ANNEALED
CARBON STEELS.
By Henry S. Rawdon and Emilio Jimeno Gil.
[ABSTRACT.]

IN some of the simple alloys a rather definite relation exists

between grain size and hardness. A study was’ made of five types
of carbon steel in various conditions of grain size to determine
whether such a i-elation exists for steels. The variations in grain
size were produced by annealing for long periods’ at different tem-
peratures and also by low-temperature annealing after a prelimi-
nary straining of the metal. Two methods were used for obtain-
ing the hardness values, the standard Brine11 apparatus and a
small type, designated as the “ micro-Brine11 ” testing set, by
which the hardness of individual grains could be measured.
In general there appears to be no definite relation between
grain size and Brine11 hardness, except in thme case of a very pro-
nounced increase in grain size, which is usually accompanied by a
decrease in the hardness.
The general effect of heating steel, i.e., in annealing, is to
harden it appreciably, this increase in hardnes,s is noticeable in
spite of any sharp drop which may a.ccompany an abrupt change
of grain size.
The rate at which steels are cooled, and consequently the struc-
tural condition of the hardening constituent, affects the hardness
much more than any other factor.
Incidental to the study of the hardness of steels coarsened by
annealing after permanent strain, some data were obtained rela-
tive to the magnitude of the necessary stress required to cause
pronounced grain growth upon annealing such strained metal
below the A, transformation tem’uerature.
‘Scientific Paper No. 397.