INDUSTRIAL HEATING Induction Heat Treating Comparative Analysis of Induction and Furnace Tempering By Xiaoging Cai, Richard D. Sisson Jr. 700: 700: ee BE ‘i mie 600 a S 2 a ae — — wee | || S04 fy a ! ooo co He z 7” jor ssc | || 2 2 =RERaS & ? wo eee 250°C 2 3 200 ff i 100 0 {> 0 5 10 15 20 ray 30 35 0 5,000 10,000 at | Hatha tine, eos Fig. 1. Temperature vs, time for samples for heating (a) and cooling (b) This wepitezeioirer crtain|e60kiGs'to work ani uses other-cookies to hi best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, lete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our rivacy ani je policy to learn more. December 2, 2016 updated privacy and cookie policyFor the past two years, the Center for Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts has been working on a one-of-a-kind research project aimed at better understanding the mechanical properties and rostructural features of steels that have been gas tempered and induction tempered. This comparative, pre- competitive research aims to help heat treaters better understand the optimal technology they should use, especially since tempering requires a balance between ified hardness and tensile strength while increasing toughness and maintaining a uniform microstructure. Ultimately, the findings from this induction and furnace tempering research project are expected to help industry, especially heat treaters in the automotive industry, reduce cycle time and process costs while maintaining or improving product performance of toughness and strength. According to Richard D. Sisson Jr., George F. Fuller Prof technical director of CHTE at WPI, this sor of Mechanical Engineering and s the first time a project like this has been undertaken. “Currently, widely available, detailed comparative data for induction and furnace tempering does not exist,” Sisson said. “This project will help identify the difference between furnace and induction tempering in properties and performance of steel.” Longtime CHTE member Lesley Frame, Ph.D. at Thermatool Corp. of East Haven, Conn., echoed that thought. “The industry has long been reliant on dated gas furnace tempering data, which does not provide a sufficient guide for developing induction heat-treating recipes,” Frame said. Project Overview Research Objectives Specifically, the project aims to answer: * What are the equivalent conditions for furnace and induction heating (time and temperature)? + When hardness values are equivalent, are other mechanical properties also equivalent? «., When hardness values are equivalent, are microstructural features equivalent? This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best % exBeninplessVostitids WEGTepsite Stdaln cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies, Visit our Or MMS StUdy, ALT Fr josteel a mediumecaroon alloy steel that contains hin, Crand Mos w selected for its high har dena BF ARO PUNE uSeE LEM incering applications. msesAll of the AISI 4140 steel was purchased from Peterson Steel Co. of Worcester, Mass., as 304.8- mm-long x 12.7-mm-diameter rods. Thermal Process Before the tempering experiments, all the material samples were austenitized at 850°C (1562°F) and held for one hour in endothermic gas at 0.4% carbon potential, followed by quenching in oil at CHTE member Bodycote in Worcester. After quenching, the furnace tempering procedure was conducted at WPI, and induction tempering was conducted at Thermatool. The as- quenched rods were tempered in an atmosphere furnace and by induction at 250°C, 350°C, 450°C, 550°C and 650°C for times from 1 minute to 15 hours. Test Methods In order to determine the effect of tempering time-temperature cycles on microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI 4140 alloy steels, surface hardness, impact toughness, tensile strength, yield strength and microstructure were studied. During the furnace tempering process, the temperature and time were measured by a thermocouple that was connected to the sample. For the induction tempering procedure, the thermal data was measured by both a thermocouple and a thermal camera that was connected ‘The measurement results are shown in Figure 1. The furnace to computer-recorded da tempering experiments only include the heating process, and the induction tempering experiments include heating and cooling processes. The selected samples were mechanically polished and etched with 2% nital solution, and the microstructures were observed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties of the tempered samples were evaluated by hardness, impact toughness test and tensile test. The Rockwell C hardness was measured on the surface of each rod, and the reported average hardness was from measurements of over 40 locations on each rod. The impact toughness test and tensile test were machined and conducted at Westmoreland Mechanical Testing & Research Co. in Youngstown, Pa. Charpy V-notch test samples were machined and prepared according to ASTM E23-12c and tested at room temperature. Tensile- test samples were machined and prepared according to ASTM E8-13a with gauge length at 24 mm and tested at room temperature. Findings to Date Microstructure “ARS SRE ERB APRN NSH AMOR TTR ARMS NTA o=ppgsta RENN Rann sre ean Pe NERO AAPEREY MUSSELMAN FUSES blot taBY MARAE MEPS A CABAL WALA ENE CATA BAE CPR HO UTE CHS, CP 1g temperirPAAEPANAG-AAG CAatte RACY Ameen Ue territe and carbides. It passe) sone the increasbe observed that the sample tempered at 450°C (840°F) consists of lath martensite and ferrite and rod-shaped carbide. When the tempering temperature is increased to 650°C, some nT spheroidal-shaped carbides precipitate. These spheroidal carbides are cementite. Hardness ‘The average surface hardness of tempered AISI 4140 is presented in Figure 3. The data shows that the surface hardness of both furnace- and induction-tempered AISI 4140 decreases with the increasing tempering temperature and time. It also shows that surface hardness is more sensitive to tempering temperature than time for both furnace and induction tempering. A comparison of the hardness results of furnace and induction tempering shows that, at the same tempering temperature, the hardness of furnace tempering is lower than induction tempering due to the longer times. The hardness of an as-quenched sample is the highest at 53 HRC. Hollomon-Jaffe Analysis According to the Hollomon-Jaffe equation, !?! Hp=T(C+log(t)), it is known that hardness is affected by tempering temperature and time. The constant C in the Hollomon-Jaffe equation is determined by statistical analysis of the fitted data. The constant C shown was selected based on the best r value. The experimental hardness data presented in Figure 3 are plotted with the Hollomon-Jaffe relationship. The results are shown in Figure 4. C equals 13 for furnace- tempered AISI 4140, and C equals 15 for induction-tempered AISI 4140. The hardness of AIST 4140 can be predicted with the Hollomon-Jaffe equation for different tempering processes. Conclusions Our key conclusions are as follows: + Lath martensite transforms to ferrite and carbides during tempering. During this proc the shape and size of carbides also change. * Surface hardness decreases with the increasing tempering temperature and time. This phenomenon is well modeled with Hollomon-Jaffe analysis. * According to the experimental results of impact tests, a martensite embrittlement phenomenon occurs when AISI 4140 is tempered at 350°C (660°F). * Comparing mechanical properties of induction and furnace tempering procedures, it is found that samples can reach the same hardness with high tempering temperature, short tempering time and low tempering temperature, long tempering time. * Analysis of surface hardness experimental results with the Hollomon-Jaffe equation determines the constant C and predicts hardness, tensile strength and yield strength with different tempering temperature and time. * Tempering of steels starts during heating to the tempering temperature. The highest This yesh site tee Te RISS HER PRBS OTN ROE Be PEATE EROS © RelP vou have the best experience, By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and vide) SKERG this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.CHT. he centei 's work on this comparative study continues committed to helping industry understand the technology they should use to ensure high product performance. In the coming months, CHTE will continue this research to also include the mechanical properties and fatigue performance at selected equivalent hardness. For more informatio To learn more about CHTE and the research work it is doing, visit http://wpi.edu/+chte or email Richard Sisson at sisson@wpi.edu. References: 1. George Krauss, Steel: Heat Treatment and Processing Principles (2nd Edition), ASM International 2. J.H. Hollomon, L.D. Jaffe, “Time-Temperature Relations in Tempering Steel,” Metals hnology, Vol 162, 1945, p. 223-249 About the CHTE Collaborative The Center for Heat Treating Excellence (CHTE) is an alliance between industry and univ researchers that addresses short- and long-term needs of the heat-treating industry. Membership is unique because members have a voice in selecting quality research projects that help them solve today’s business challenges. The member research process works as follows: Each research project has a focus group composed of members who provide an industrial perspective. + Members submit and vote on proposed projects. + Three to four projects are funded yearly. + Members have royalty-free intellectual property rights to pre-competitive research. + Members have the option of paying to sponsor proprietary projects. + CHTE periodically does large-scale projects funded by the federal government or foundations. These projects keep members informed about leading-edge technology. + Members are trained on all research technology and software updates. Other projects that CHTE is currently working on include: + Nondestructive Testing for Hardness and Case Depth * Alloy Life Improvement + Additive Manufacturing * Gas Quench Steel Hardenability Standard * Enhancements to CHTE software: CarbTool®, CarboNitrideTool® and NitrideTool® TNAMSRHS (ABUSER Enrtein snohion.seaerhs and vats ether sqokies te.helpyeu have,the best — 3% exagriansna i wleling, this abate gataliccookies have already been set, which you may delete and back By closinortpigressagagr continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Vist our See re St ET snc coo ayo ermmreXiaoging Cai is with Cent Richard D. Sisson Jr. is wi Related Articles Testing of Fasteners See More Researchers Work to Design Quench System that Controls Distortion bg Continuous Tempering | ~Furnaces to-Cony iy-with-” updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.Nadcap/CQL-9 See More 1 ee ee ST m4 177 HF eee = 800 eee oe 0 == 3500 seeses 250°C Heating temperature, ‘C 2 22 8 Heating temperature, “C 6 5000, 10,000 15,0 Heating time, seconds 20,000 Fig. 1. Temperature vs. time for samples for heating (a) and cooling (b) This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help youhave the best % experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.Fig. 2, SEM micrographs of tempered samples: (a) Tempered at 250°C and held for I hour; (b) Tempered at 450°C. and held for | hour; (c) Tempered at 650°C and held for | hour 60. 60 —— >, are 2 | ee a sre eg) oe sre er 2 eS se ne g 40) $e $s src Se Bg | Oe ir Bs sso Su iim ca iin 3 sso a 10: 10 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 oO 5 10 15, 20 Tempering time, hours, Tempering timo, minutes Fig. 3. Variation of surface hardness with tempering temperature and time w @ c19 o=t5 2® 2° i 40 fe =” a” fe da Bio) y= -sozrex- acsri Bo y=-25270x+ 73.488 ose? we os0ble ro ® i ra 78 7 ® 7 ea ‘Geloot000 Tieetonityt000 This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best % Fig.Gelinealssignizin ng thre weanling, berdunrcepiiele Hampanlalpoeen det; AhieNnAT MERPauRRe Ea indigUR" BGERSTIAG this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.= i - i i WPI Ph.D. candidate Xiaoging Cai recently won the 2016 HTS/Bodycote Best Paper in Heat Treating Award for her research in this area. Also featured are Dean Hoffman (left) of Bodycote and her advisor, Richard Sisson, Get our new eMagazine delivered to your inbox every month. Stay in the know on the latest thermal-processing news and information. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Copyright ©2022, All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development : ePublishing This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best | % experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.