Charpy Impact energy

The results of the heat treatment experiment on normalised steel, quenched steel,
and quenched and tempered steel provide valuable insights into the effect of
different heat treatment processes on the toughness of a material. The average
Charpy impact energy values of 13.5J, 4.48J, and 20.2J for normalised steel, quenched
steel, and quenched and tempered steel, respectively, indicate a clear trend in the
material's toughness as a result of different heat treatment processes.

The average Charpy impact energy of normalised steel, which underwent a heat
treatment technique to produce a fine-grained microstructure, is 13.5J. This suggests
that the material is just moderately challenging. Quenched steel, on the other hand,
undergoes quick cooling after being heated to a high temperature, creating a
challenging and brittle microstructure. Because quenched steel has a low level of
toughness and an average Charpy impact energy of 4.48 J, it is less suitable for
applications requiring resistance to sudden impact loading.

The average Charpy impact energy of quenched and tempered steel, which goes
through a two-step heat treatment procedure that involves quenching and
tempering at a lower temperature, is 20.2J. As a result, it is perfect for applications
that call for strength and toughness. This shows a high level of toughness.

These findings show the importance of the proper heat treatment method to give a
material the correct mechanical properties. In this instance, the quenched and
tempered steel demonstrated the maximum level of toughness, demonstrating the
success of the two-step heat treatment procedure. These data can guide material
choice and process design in various engineering applications where toughness is
crucial, such as in the automotive, aerospace, and construction sectors.
Vickers Hardness test
The Vickers test is a common technique for figuring out a material's hardness. Important
details on how heat treatment affects the material's hardness can be found in the Vickers
hardness test findings near the edge and centre of the samples of normalised steel,
quenched steel, and quenched and tempered steel.

The normalised steel sample's edge has an average Vickers hardness of 2060, which denotes
a moderate hardness level. Near the centre of the sample, the average Vickers hardness is
1940, which is a little less than the value at the sample's edges. These findings imply that the
steel's hardness distribution was not materially altered by the heat treatment procedure to
normalise it.

In contrast, quenched steel has an average Vickers hardness value significantly higher than
normalised steel. Near the edge of the quenched steel sample, the average Vickers hardness
is 5760, more than twice as hard as normalised steel. Near the centre of the sample, the
average Vickers hardness is even higher, at 7960, demonstrating that the quenching process
significantly increased the material's hardness.

Similar trends can be seen in the quenched and tempered steel results, which had an
average Vickers hardness near the sample's edge of 2290 and the sample's centre of 2460.
The values for quenched and tempered steel are still significantly higher than those for
normalised steel, despite being lower than those for quenched steel. This shows that the
material's brittleness was successfully decreased during the tempering process after
quenching, while the material's high hardness was maintained.

In conclusion, the results of the Vickers hardness test showed that heat treatment
significantly affects the material's hardness, with quenching producing a noticeable increase
in hardness. The outcomes also demonstrate that a high hardness level can be achieved
during the quenching and tempering process while the material's toughness is preserved.
These findings can be used to guide material selection and process design in various
engineering applications where hardness is a crucial property, such as in the production of
cutting tools, gears, and bearings.