KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ME 217: Material Lab

Student Name Mohammed S. ALHARBI

Student ID # 201763790

Section # 13

Experiment No. & Title NO.10 & HT of Steel and Jominy test

Instructor Name Dr. Morsi Mohamed Mahmoud

Date 24 Nov 2019

Cover Page 0

Introduction & Objectives 3

Experimental Procedure 3

Results & Discussion 10

Conclusion 4

Total 20
Introduction & Objectives

1- Heat Treatment and Microstructure of Carbon Steel

Steeliisione of theimost usediengineering materials. Itiis usediin theiform of beamsifor buildingisupport
structures;iin the formiof platesifor shipiconstruction; in theiform of tubesifor boilersiin
powerigeneratingiplants; in theiform of sheetimetal for cars,iand specialisteels are usedifor cuttingitools
(hacksaw, blades and knives) and for wear-resistantiapplication such as ballibearings. There are two main
reasons for the widespread use of steels. The first reason is that steel is abundant inithe earth’sicrust in the
formiof Fe2O3 andirequire little energy to convertiit to Fe, which makes its productioniinexpensive. The second
reason is it can be made to exhibit a great varietyiof microstructuresiand thus a wideirange of
mechanicaliproperties. In the development of carbon steels, the microstructureidepends on both, the
carbonicontent and thermalihistory oriheat treatment. Understandingithe heatitreatment processiof carbon
steelirequires an abilityito understand theiFe-C binaryiphaseidiagram, as shown in Figure 01. There are three
types of steel. The first, steel with a carbon content of 0.78 wt%, is calledieutectoid steel. The second, steel with
carbon content less than 0.78 wt% called hypo-eutectoid steel. The third, steel with a carbon content greater
than 0.78 wt% is called hyper-eutectoidisteel. In addition, there are three types of iron, as illustrated in table 1.
Some regions have two phases. If one coolsihypo-eutectoidisteel from a point in the austeniteiregion, reaching
theiA3 line, ferriteiwill form from theiaustenite.iThis ferriteiis called proieutectoid ferrite.iWhen A1 is
reached,ia mixture of ferriteiand ironicarbide (cementite) lamellariforms from theiremaining austenite.iThe
microstructure of hypo-eutectoidisteel uponicooling wouldicontain pro eutectoidiferrite plus pearlite (α +
Fe3C).iThe exploitation of thermodynamiciequilibrium can be used to alter the type,isize and
distributionipattern of phasesipresent in the microstructure.iCooling the steelsiso rapidly, often formimetastable
phasesilike martensite, body-centred tetragonal (BCT)icrystal structure. The experimentsiand the results
presentediin a continuous coolingitransformation (CCT) diagramishown in figurei02 can be used to find much
of theiinformation on non-equilibriumiphase-type,isize and distribution. Manyipaths through theipearlite
regions are possible. Slowericooling causes coarseiPearlite, while fast coolingicauses fine pearliteito form.iThe
muchifaster coolingirate can formiother phases likeimartensite instead ofipearlite (line c and d, quenching
process, non-equilibrium heat treatment). It should be noted that slowicooling heat treatment is not essential
from a practical point of view.iIn practice, cooling isicontinuous and fasteriin rate, hence always involve in the
development of non-equilibriumimicrostructures. Therefore, the phaseidiagram cannot beiused to predictithe
non-equilibrium microstructures.iHeat treatments of steelsidivided into twoiapproaches: intermediate coolingior
fast cooling. The intermediate cooling which is when the steel is coolediat intermediate ratesito room
temperature, Cican diffuse relativelyifar, and the spacingiof the Cirich phase Fe3C isigreater. The resultant
pearlite is called coarse pearlite, and theiheat treatment is called fullianneal. This can be done by shuttingioff
the furnaceiwhile the specimen is keptiinside. The transformationitakes placeiat temperatures slightlyibelow
727℃ whenithe steel is coolediat a faster irate but stillislower thaniquenching. At the lower temperature C can
diffuse onlyia short distance,iand the Fe3C-rich phaseispacing is smaller. The resultant pearlite is called
fineipearlite, and the heatitreatment isicalled normalizing. The fast coolingior quenchingiis heating theisteel
above lower criticalitemperature and thenicool in water oriin oil (very fast cooling). Afteriquenching, steel is
very hardiand brittle andipractically no use.iStructure after quenchingiis fine martensiteiwhich is complex,
hardiand brittle structure. Theitempering is reheating the quenchedisteel up to intermediateitemperature, below
theilower critical temperature, andithen cool. After tempering, steelibecome tough and losesisome hardness and
becomes useable. The objectives are toiinvestigate the processesiof heat treatingiof carbon steel and studyithe
effect ofiheat treatment onimicrostructure.
2- Jominy End-Quench Hardenability Test
 Hardenability of steel is the criteriaiwhich determine theidepth and distributioniof hardness induced by
quenchingifrom the austeniticistate. A steel part canibe hardened by quenchingiinto the water, oil, or other
suitable cooling media. During quenchingithe surface ofithe steel, theipart is cooledirapidly, resulting inihigh
hardness, while the interioricools more relatively slowlyiand is not hardened. However, the surfaceito center
linear variation of hardnessiis not predictable fromithe T-T-T diagram. Hardenabilityirefers to the capacityiof
hardening (depth) ratherithan to maximumiattainable hardness. Theihardenability of steelidepends on
compositioniof the steel, austenitic grainisize, and structureiofithe steel beforeiquenching. Generally,
hardenabilityiincreases with increasingicarbon content and alloy content. The mostiimportant factor
influencingithe maximum hardness that can beiobtained is the mass of the metalibeing quenched. The
criticalicooling rate is definedias the rate oficooling high enough to prevent non-martensite microstructure
constituent formation. Hardenability of all steels is directly related to critical cooling rates. The jominy end-
quench hardenability test is a specimen of medium carbon steel machined to the shape andidimension shown
iniFigure 03, which isia circular bariwith a 25 mm diameteriand 100 mm length.i The sample is placediin the
furnace at 900°C ifor about ½ to 1ihour. Then theisample has been austenitized, it is removedifrom the
furnaceiand placed directlyiinto the quenching apparatus. A jet of water is quicklyisplashed at one end ofithe
specimen. The wateriflow rate is adjusted so that theiwater column is approximatelyithe distance 50 mmiabove
the endiof the pipe when wateriis flowing freely. Martensiteiis the natural productiat the quenched end, aibainite
and pearliteiincrease in amountitoward the slowlyicooled end of the specimen. Afterithe entire sampleihas
cooled to room temperature,ithe scale oxidationiis removed; two oppositeiand flat parallelisurfaces areiground
along the length of the bar. RockwelliC hardness measurementsiare then made every 2 mm,iand these
readingsiare recorded, whichiindicates different microstructuresiin the specimen. Aiplot of the hardnessiversus
distance, asishown in Figurei04, from theiquenched end (called Jominy distance, Dqe) is theihardenability curve.
The objectives are to studyihardness as a functioniof quench rate, investigateithe hardenabilityiof steels
andicorrelate the hardnessiand grain structureias observed underia microscope.

Figure 2
Figure 1
 Figure 3

Phase Crystal Composition Strength Ductility

Structure
Austenite () solid solution of 0 to 2.1 wt% C Low High
C in FCC Fe
Ferrite () Solid solution of 0 to 0.02 wt% C Intermediate Intermediate
C in BCC Fe
Cementite Orthorhombic 6.7 wt% C Extremely Extremely Brittle
(Fe3C) compound hard

Table 1

Figure 4

Experimental Procedure
1- Heat Treatment and Microstructure of Carbon Steel
Stage I
a) There been given four mounted specimens of carbon steels. The first sample is 0.4%C, low carbon steel. The
second sample is 0.6%C (AISI 1040), medium carbon steel. The third sample is 0.8%C (AISI 1080), eutectoid
steel. The fourth sample is 1.1%C, high carbon steel.
b) The specimens will be fully austenized by heatingiat 850 ºC for 20 minutesiin a heat treatmentifurnace.
c) The specimens will be cooled inside the furnaceiat a prolonged rate to get the equilibrium structures and the
furnaceitemperature should be decreasedifrom 850 ºC to 720 ºCiand then quench iniwater to retainithe
microstructure.
d) Five imeasurements of the hardness ofieach sample using ithe Rockwell hardness scaleiB should be taken.
e) The specimen should be prepared for metallographicistudy, polishing,iand etching (usingi2% Nital), and ithe
microstructureiunder an optical microscopeiat 100X ishould be observed.

Stage II
a) Six specimensiof eutectoid steelsi(0.8%C) will be given. These six samples should be fully austenized by
heating ati750 ºC for 20iminutes in a heat treatmentifurnace.
b) Two specimens should be cooled inside the furnace to roomitemperature after it shutioff. Full anneal.
c) Two specimens should be cooled at roomitemperature. iNormalizing
d) Two specimens should be cooled in runningitap water. iiQuenching.
e) One quench sample at 300 °C for 1 hour should be heated and hold. Tempering.
f) Five measurements of the hardness of each sample using the Rockwellihardness scalei C should bei taken.
g) The specimen should be prepared for metallographici study, polishing, andi etching (usingi2% Nital), and the
microstructureiunder an opticalimicroscope at 100X should be observed.

2- Jominy End-Quench Hardenability Test

a) The specimen should be heated in a furnaceiat a temperatureiabove A3 or Acm (to ensureiaustenization) for
about an hour in a clayicrucible filled withipowdered charcoalito reduceidecarburization.
b) The freeiwater jet in the quenchitank to a heightiof 50 m should be adjusted.
c) The specimen from furnaceishould be removed and place it in the quenchifixture.
d) Theiend-quench should be allowed to continue for a minimumiof 10 minutes, then the sample should be
removed from the quenchitank and let to be cooled in runningiwater.
e) A stripiof the flat surfaceiof 2 mmiwidth should be ground and polished alongithe length ofithe specimen.
g) The specimen should be mounted in a specialifixture for accurate spacingiof hardness tests. Aiseries of
hardnessitests at specifiedilocations on the flatisurface should be made and recorded.
f) The flatisurface on specimen should beiground, polished, andietched for microscopiciexamination
Results & Discussion

1- Heat Treatment and Microstructure of Carbon Steel

The samplei Fractions of total Fractionsiof Fractions of thei Fractions of
ferritei cementite proeutectoid pearlitei
0.4 %C 0.94 0.057 0.512 0.49
0.6 %C 0.91 0.087 0.783 0.217
0.8 %C 0.88 0.12 0.0067 0.99
1.1 %C 0.84 0.16 0.057 0.94

C% Total ferritei Total cementitei Hardnessi

0.2 0.973345313 0.026654687 69.5
0.4 0.943396226 0.056603774 87.5
0.8 0.883498053 0.116501947 98.5
1.2 0.82359988 0.17640012 115

Hardness vs %Carbon
140

120

100
Hardness (MPa)

80

60

40

20

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
%Crabon

Total Ferrite & Total Cementite vs %Carbon

1.2
Total Ferrite & Total Cementite

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4
%Carbon
Heatitreatment Structurei Hardness Ductility
Slowicooling (Full anneal) Coarse 4 1
pearlitei
Intermediatei(Normalizing) iFine pearlite 3 2
Fasticooling (Quenching) martensitei 1 4
QuenchediandiTempered Tempered 2 3
marenistei
Note: 1 means Note: 1 means
the harder the more
ductile

2- Jominy End-Quench Hardenability Test

- As closer to the quenched end, as the surface gets harder, and the grains get bigger.
- The ideal criticalidiameter is the largestidiameter of a bariwhich, uponiquenching in an idealiquench,
williexhibit 50% martensiteiat the centeriof the bar. Yes, it can be determined with a Jominy test.
- Increasingicarbon content theimartensite obtainediby adequateiquenching increases theihardenability
ofisteel, as shown in table 2. With alloying, alloy steels (4340 andi4140)igenerally have improved
hardenabilityiand maintainirather flat hardenabilityicurves. Plainicarbon steels (1060, 1040 and
1020) haveicurves thatidrop offiquickly.

Table 2
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, in the last laboratory, it has been done two experiments, first the heat treatment
and then the Jominy test. First, it has been using the heat treatment experiment toiinvestigate the processes
of heatitreating of carbonisteel and studyithe effect of heatitreatment onimicrostructure. Essentially in
understanding the heatitreatment processiof carbonisteel requires an abilityito understandithe Fe-Cibinary
phaseidiagram that is as showniin Figure 01. In this experiment and stage I, it has been using four samples
classified according to their carbon content. Two of them are hypo-eutectoid steels which are 0.4%C and
0.6%C, and two of them are hyper-eutectoid steels which are 0.8%C and 1.1%C. As shown above in hardness
vs %C plot, increasingithe carbon content williincrease the hardness. Also, for example, steel with 0.2% carbon
content its hardness equals 69.5 which look very lower comparing to 1.2% carbon content which equals to 115.
Also, it has been using the phase diagramiand the lever ruleito calculateithe fractionsiof totaliferrite and
cementiteifor each specimen. For example, the samples of 0.4%C and 1.1%C have fractions of total ferrite
equal 0.94 and 0.84, respectively. On the other in stage II, six specimens of eutectoid steels (0.8%C) are given.
Two specimens are cooled inside the furnace in process called annealing, two in room temperature in process
called normalizing and two in running tap water in process called quenching. After that, oneiquench sample
ati300 °C for 1 hour should isiheated and hold toi increase ductility. The slowerithe cooling the moreithe
ductility and the lessithe hardness. Second, it has been using Jominy test to studyihardness as aifunction of
quenchirate, investigateithe hardenabilityiof steels and correlateithe hardnessiand grainistructure as
observediunder a microscope. Hardenabilityirefers to theicapacity of hardeningi(depth) ratherithan
toimaximumiattainableihardness. The hardenabilityiof steel idepends on compositioniof the steel,
austeniticigrain size, andistructure of the steelibefore quenching. Toiinvestigate hardenability, the tool that
shown in figure 3 is used. In addition, the plot of the hardness versus distance, as shown in Figure 04, has been
used. As closer to the quenched end, as the surface gets harder, and the grains get bigger. Jominy test can be
used to determine the idealicritical diameter. Increasing carbonicontent theimartensite obtained byiadequate
quenchingiincreases the hardenabilityiof steel, as has shown in the examples and the table.