Copyright © 1995 ASM International ®

Heat Treater's Guide: Practices and Procedures for Irons and Steels, 2nd Edition, 06400G All rights reserved.
Harry Chandler, editor www.asminternational.org

Heat Treater's Guide

Practices and Procedures for Irons and Steels
Second Edition

Harry Chandler, Editor

Veronica Flint, Manager of Book Acquisitions

Grace M. Davidson, Manager of Book Production
Randall L. Boring, Production Project Coordinator
Cheryl L. Powers, Production Project Coordinator

The Materials
Information Society
 Copyright © 1995 ASM International ®
Heat Treater's Guide: Practices and Procedures for Irons and Steels, 2nd Edition, 06400G All rights reserved.
Harry Chandler, editor www.asminternational.org

Copyright 1995
by
ASM International"
All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the
copyright owner.

First printing, December 1995

Second printing, June 1998
Third printing, November 2000
Fourth printing, February 2006
Fifth printing, June 2007
Sixth printing, January 2010

This book is a collective effort involving hundreds of technical specialists. It brings together a wealth of
information from worldwide sources to help scientists, engineers, and technicians solve current and long-range
problems.
Great care is taken in the compilation and production of this Volume, but it should be made clear that NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION. WARRANTIES OF MER-
CHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE GWEN IN CONNECTION WITH
TIllS PUBLICATION. Although this information is believed to be accurate by ASM, ASM cannot guarantee that
favorable results will be obtained from the use of this publication alone. This publication is intended for use by
persons having technical skill, at their sole discretion and risk. Since the conditions of product or material use are
outside of ASM's control, ASM assumes no liability or obligation in connection with any use of this information.
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Comments. criticisms. and suggestions are invited, and should be forwarded to ASM International.

Library of Congress: 94-73645

SAN 204-7586

ISBN-13: 978-0-87170-520-4
ISBN-10: 0-87170-520-6

ASM International"
Materials Park, OH 44073-0002

Printed in the United States of America

 Copyright © 1995 ASM International ®
Heat Treater's Guide: Practices and Procedures for Irons and Steels, 2nd Edition, 06400G All rights reserved.
Harry Chandler, editor www.asminternational.org

PREFACE
The success of the 1982 edition of the Heat Treater's Guide: Standard Practices and Procedures for Steel is
largely a tribute to its editors who came up with a unique, easy-to-use format. They packaged practical, how-to
information in brief articles (typically less than a page) on each of the 280 standard AISI grades of carbon, alloy,
tool, and stainless steels available at the time.
Brevity was further promoted by standardizing the information presented in each article, namely: chemical
composition, alternative U.S. and foreign grades, characteristics related to heat treating, forging practice (where
applicable), recommended heat treating practice, and recommended processing sequence.
The concept is carried forward in this new edition. In preparing for it, all existing articles were reviewed and
updated where necessary, Le., new AISI-UNS chemical compositions replace obsolete compositions, RH grades
of steel are identified, and aerospace practice for heat treating carbon and alloy steels is presented. Other changes
include:

• Steels not covered in the prior edition are added to the mix, i.e., ultrahigh strength steels, cast irons (gray,
ductile, and malleable types), and PIM steels (ferrous, stainless steel, and tool steel types).
• Topics not in the' 82 edition are addressed, such as the use of statistical process control in heat treating,
and practical applications of the computer in heat treating.
• New information is also provided by a number of short articles that focus on major trends and current
developments in heat treating practice. this information is in support of topics that are part of the
standard format, i.e., normalizing, annealing, surface hardening, quenchinglquenchants, tempering,
cold/cryogenic treatments, and furnace atmospheres.
• The number of steels represented in standard format articles has been increased from 280 to around 350.
• Also new to this edition are more than 50 short articles on timely topics ranging from back-to-the basics
look at causes of distortion and cracking in quenching to a survey of all available surface hardening
processes.
• Access to articles is improved by restyled contents pages.

iii
 Copyright © 1995 ASM International ®
Heat Treater's Guide: Practices and Procedures for Irons and Steels, 2nd Edition, 06400G All rights reserved.
Harry Chandler, editor www.asminternational.org
 Copyright © 1995 ASM International ®
Heat Treater's Guide: Practices and Procedures for Irons and Steels, 2nd Edition, 06400G All rights reserved.
Harry Chandler, editor www.asminternational.org

Table of Contents
Heat Treating Processes and Self-Quenching Processes. . . . . . . . 89 1064 200
Related Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. I Fluidized Bed Quenching 91 1065 200
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 Ultrasonic Quenching . . . . . . . . . . . 92 1069 , " 201
Heat Treating Processes. . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 HIP Quenching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 1070 201
Causes of Distortion and Cracking Spray Quenching Process 93 1075 202
during Quenching . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3 Fog Quenching Process. . . . . . . . . . 94 1078 202
Stress Relief Heat Treating of Steel. . .. 5 Cold Die Quenching . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 1080 204
Furnace Atmospheres. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 Quenching in an Electric or 1084 .. '" , 207
Cold and Cryogenic Treatment Magnetic Field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 1085 ," 208
of Steel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12 Quenching Flame and Induction 1086 208
Representative Applications of Hardened Parts 95 1090 .. '" , 208
Heat Treating Furnaces . . . . . . . . .. 13 Tempering ProcessesfI'echnology 96 1095 210
Statistical Process Control of Conventional Processes 96 Resulfurized Carbon Steels
Heat Treating Operations. . . . . . . .. 16 Martempering of Steel. 10 1 (1100 Series) 215
How a Commercial Heat Treater Uses Austempering of Steel. 106 1l08 215
SPC and the Computer . . . . . . . . .. 20 Carbon & Alloy Steels Introduction . . . .. III lllO 215
Practical Applications of the 1113 215
Carbon Steels (1000, 1100, 1200,
Computer in Heat Treating . . . . . .. 23 lll7 216
and 1500 Series) 121
Guidelines for the Heat Treatment Introduction 121 1118 219
of Steel 27 Nonresu1furized (1000 Series) 139 ll37 220
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 27 1005 139 ll39 221
The Normalizing Process. . . . . . . . . .. 27 1006 " 139 1140 222
Annealing of Steel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29 1008 139 1]4] 222
Surface Hardening Treatments .... .. 36 1010 ]41 ll44 223
Induction Hardening. . . . . . . . . . .. 37 1012 , 143 1146 .. '" 224
Flame Hardening . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 42 1013 143 ll5!. 225
Gas Carburizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 46 1015 143 Rephosphorized and Resulfurized
Pack Carburizing . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 50 1016 .. '" 145 Carbon Steels (1200 Series) 226
Liquid Carburizing 1017 145 12]1 226
and Cyaniding . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 51 1018 146 1212 226
Vacuum Carburizing. . . . . . . . . . .. 54 1019 150 1213 226
Plasma (Ion) Carburizing. . . . . . .. 55 1020 151 12Ll4 227
Carbonnitriding . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 58 1021 160 1215 227
Gas Nitriding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 60 1022 .. '" 161 High Manganese Carbon Steels
Liquid Nitriding . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 64 1023 164 (1500 Series) 228
Plasma (Ion) Nitriding . . . . . . . . .. 67 1025 .. '" 165 1513 .. '" 228
Gaseous and Plasma 1026 166 ]5B21H, 15B2]RH. 228
Nitrocarburizing . . . . . . . . . . . .. 69 1029 , 167 1522, ]522H 23]
Fluidized Bed Hardening. . . . . . .. 71 1030 168 1524, 1524H , 234
Boride (Boronizing) Process. . . .. 74 1035 '" 169 1526, ]526H 238
Laser Surface Hardening. . . . . . .. 76 ]037 172 1527 .. '" 240
Electron Beam Hardening 76 1038, 1038H 172 15B28H 241
Steel Quenching Technology. . . . . . .. 77 1039 ," 176 ]5B30H 242
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 77 1040 177 15B35H, 15B35RH 244
Air Quenching Process. . . . . . . . .. 77 1042 18] 1536 247
Water Quenching Process 78 1043 ]82 15B37H 247
Oil Quenching Process , 79 ]044 183 1541, 1541H 249
Polymer Quenchants 81 1045, 1045H 184 ]5B41H 252
Molten Salt Quenching Process. .. 83 1046 191 ]548 255
Brine Quenching Process. . . . . . .. 84 1049 192 15B48H 256
Caustic Quenching Process . . . . .. 85 1050 .. '" 192 1551 258
Gas Quenching Process . . . . . . . .. 86 1053 195 1552 .. '" 259
Other QuenchantslProcesses . . . . . . .. 88 1055 ]96 1561. , 259
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 88 1059 ]97 15B62H 260
Vacuum Quenching 88 1060 197 ]566 262

v
 Copyright © 1995 ASM International ®
Heat Treater's Guide: Practices and Procedures for Irons and Steels, 2nd Edition, 06400G All rights reserved.
Harry
AlloyChandler, editor
Steels (1300 through www.asminternational.org
8630, 8630H . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 456 Mold Steels (P Series) 580
9700 Series) 265 86B30H 460 Introduction 580
1330, 1330H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 265 8637,8637H 462 P2 580
1335, 1335H 268 8640, 8640H ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 464 P3 581
1340, 1340H 271 8642, 8642H . . . . . . .. 467 P4 581
1345,1345H , 274 8645, 8645H .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 470 P5 583
33lORH 277 86B45, 86B45H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 473 P6 584
4023 , .. 278 8650, 8650H ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 475 P20 " 585
4024 279 8655, 8655H . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 478 P21 587
4027, 4027H, 4027RH 280 8660, 8660H 481 Hot Work Tool Steels (H Series) 589
4028, 4028H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 285 8720, 8720H, 8720RH. . . . . . . . . . .. 484 Introduction 589
4032,4032H 286 8740, 8740H ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 487 HIO 589
4037,4037H 289 8822, 8822H, 8822RH. . . . . . . . . . .. 490 HIt. 591
4042, 4042H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 293 9260, 9260H 495 H12 597
4047,4047H " 297 931OH, 931ORH 498 HI3 600
4118, 4118H, 4118RH 303 94B15, 94B15H 503 HI4 605
4120H, 4120RH 307 94B17, 94B17H 505 HI9 607
4130, 4130H " 309 94B30, 94B30H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 507 H21. , 609
4135,4135H 314 No.5-317 51O H22 612
4137,4137H 316 CRB-7 510 H23 614
4140, 4140H 319 H24 616
Tool Steels .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 513
4142,4142H 326 H25 617
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 513
4145, 4145H, 4145RH 329 H26 619
Water-Hardening Tool Steels
4147,4147H " 332 H42 621
(W Series) 516
4150, 4150H 334 Tungsten High-Speed Tool Steels
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 516
4161, 4161H, 4161RH 337 WI 518 (T Series) 622
4320, 4320H, 4320RH 341 W2 522 Introduction 622
4330V 347 Tl 622
W5 523
4335V 347 TI 627
Shock-Resisting Tool Steel
4340, 4340H 347 (S Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 524 T4 629
E4340, E4340H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 353 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 524 T5 631
4615 355 T6 632
SI 524
4620, 4620H, 4620RH. . . . . . . . . . . .. 356 S2 527 T8 634
4626, 4626H . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 362 T15 635
S5 '" 528
4718H 364 S6 530 Molybdenum High-Speed Tool Steels
4720, 4720H 366 (M Series) 639
S7 531
4815,4815H 368 Oil-Hardening Cold Work Tool Introduction 639
4817,4817H " 373 Steels (0 Series). . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 533 Ml 639
4820, 4820H, 4820RH 378 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 533 M2 642
50B40, 50B40H, 50B40RH. . . . . . . .. 383 01 533 M3 Class 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 648
50B44, 50B44H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 386 02 537 M3 Class 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 649
5046, 5046H 388 06 539 M4 650
50B46, 50B46H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 390 07 542 M7 652
50B50, 50B50H 392 Medium-Alloy, Air-Hardening Cold MIO 654
50B60, 50B60H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 394 Work Tool Steels (A Series). . . . .. 544 M30 657
5117 396 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 544 M33 658
5120, 5120H 396 A2 544 M34 659
5130, 5130H, 5130RH 399 A3 549 M35 661
5132,5132H 403 A4 549 M36 661
5135, 5135H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405 A6 550 M41 661
5140, 5140H, 5140RH , .. 407 A7 553 M42 662
5147H 412 A8 555 M43 664
5150, 5150H 414 A9 556 M44 665
5155,5155H 417 AI0 557 M46 666
5160, 5160H, 5160RH 419 High-Carbon, High-Chromium Cold M47 667
51B60, 51B60H 425 Work Tool Steels (D Series) ..... 560 M48 667
E51100 428 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 560 M50 (Carpenter VIM-VAR
E52100 428 D2 560 M-50 H5S) 669
6118, 6118H 433 D3 566 Ultrahigh-Strength Steels 671
6150, 6150H 434 D4 568 Introduction 671
81B45, 81B45H 437 D5 570 4130, 4130H, 4130RH '" 672
8615 438 D7 572 4140, 4140H, 4140RH 680
8617,8617H 439 Low-Alloy Special-Purpose Tool 4340, 4340H 690
8620, 8620H 441 Steels (L Series). . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 574 300M 700
8622, 8622H, 8622RH 449 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 574 D-6a, D-6ac 702
8625, 8625H 452 L2 574 6150, 6150H 703
8627,8627H 454 L6 576 8640, 8640H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 708

vi
 Copyright © 1995 ASM International ®
Heat Treater's Guide: Practices and Procedures for Irons and Steels, 2nd Edition, 06400G All rights reserved.
HarryHll
Chandler, editor
Modified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 710 330 754 CF-3 www.asminternational.org
" 795
H13 712 347 " 755 CF-8C 795
AF141O 714 347H 756 CF-8M 795
HP-9-4-30 716 348 756 CF-12M '" 795
Stainless Steels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 719 348H 757 CF-16F 795
Introduction 719 384 '" 757 CF-20 796
Austenitic Stainless Steels. . . . . . . .. 724 Ferritic Stainless Steels 759 CH-20 796
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 724 Introduction 759 CK-20 " 796
201 725 405 760 CN-7M 796
202 726 409 760 Cast PH Stainless Steels " 797
205 727 429 760 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 797
301 728 430 760 17-4PH '" 797
302 729 430F 761 17-7PH 799
302B 730 430FSe 761 PHI5-7Mo 801
303 731 434 '" 761 AM-350 '" 802
303Se 732 436 '" 762 15-5PH 804
304 " 733 439 762 A-286 805
304H 735 442 762 AM-355 806
304L 735 446 762 Custom 450 (XM-25) . . . . . . . . .. 808
S30430. '" 736 Martensitic Stainless Steels 763 Custom 455 (XM-16) 808
304LN 737 Introduction 763 PH13-8Mo 809
304N 738 403 '" 763
305 '" 739 410 765 Heat Treating Iron Castings and
308 740 414 770 PIM Steels " 811
309 741 416, 416Se 772 Heat Treating Cast Irons 813
309S 742 420, 420F 775 Heat Treating of Gray Iron " 816
310 '" 743 422 777
310S 744 Carpenter 636 (Type 422) 778 Heat Treating Ductile Iron " 824
314 745 431 779 Heat Treating Malleable Irons 835
316 746 440A 781
Heat Treating PIM Tool Steels . . . . . . . .. 844
316F 747 440B 782
316H 748 440C 783 Heat Treating PIM Stainless Steel. . . . . .. 848
316L 748 Cast Stainless Steels 786 Heat Treating of PIM Steel Parts " 852
316N 749 Introduction 786
Glossary of Terms Related to
316LN 750 CA-6NM 792
317 751 Heat Treating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 867
CA-15 793
317L 751 CA-40 794 General Data
321 752 CB-30 794 Common units for converting
32tH 753 CC-50 794 from the English " 885
329 '" 753 CE-30 794 Cross Reference to steels. . . . . . . . .. 887

vii