TAM 224/CEE 210 111

11. Heat Treatment of Plain Carbon Steels

11.1. Objective
The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate
some important heat-treatment processesincluding
annealing, normalizing, quenching and tempering
and the effects that these processes have on the
microstructure and mechanical properties of a com-
mon structural steel. The microstructure is examined
under a microscope, and mechanical properties are
determined from tensile and hardness tests.
Also, the Jominy hardenability test is conducted
on a steel sample to illustrate how cooling rate affects
the hardness and microstructure of the steel.
11.2. Apparatus
Two tabletop Vulcan model 3-550 electric furnaces
with a maximum operating temperature of 1100C are
usedone to austenitize all specimens (Fig. 1), and
the other to temper some of the specimens. A water
bath is used for quenching. Hardness is determined
by using a Rockwell hardness machine. Tension tests
to failure are conducted in an Instron model 4400
testing machine.
Jominy heat treatment is conducted using a water
jet in a recirculating water tank (Fig. 2).
A Nikon microscope with 5X to 100X objectives
and a TV camera and monitor are used to examine the
microstructure of previously prepared heat-treatment
samples.
11.3. Materials
Eight identical carbon-steel round tensile speci-
mens with the same nominal dimensions as those in
the previous tension-test lab will be used. Four of
these eight specimens will have been resting in one of
the electric ovens at 850C (1550F) for at least an hour
before the beginning of the lab session, leaving them
in the austenitic condition. The remaining four

Fig. 1. Removal of specimens from austenitizing oven
prior to quenching in water.

Fig. 2. Hot Jominy specimen being cooled from below
by a water jet.
112 Behavior of Engineering Materials TAM 224/CEE 210
specimens are prepared ahead of time by the
laboratory techniciantwo annealed (A) specimens,
1

and two normalized (N) specimens;
2
these specimens
will be at room temperature, ready for testing.
One Jominy sample of 1045, 4340, or 6150 steel
will be available for hardenability testing. This
sample will also be in an austenitizing oven at a
temperature between 850C and 900C at the
beginning of the laboratory session.
11.4. Experimental Procedure
The class will be broken into four groupsA, B,
C, D. All groups will participate in the initial
quenching of the four tensile specimens that are in the
austenitizing oven, and in the water-jet cooling of the
hot Jominy specimen. Thereafter, groups A and B
may collaborate in part, as may groups C and D, as
suggested in the accompanying table.
Heat treatment
1. Using gloves and tongs, remove one of the
specimens from the 850C furnace (Fig. 1) and

1
An annealed specimen is one that is heated to the
austenitizing temperature, held at that temperature for at
least one hour, then allowed to oven-cool with the oven
door closed. The cooling time is approximately one day.
Annealed specimens are identified by white paint on one
end.
2
A normalized specimen is one that is heated to the
austenitizing temperature, held at that temperature for at
least one hour, then removed from the oven and allowed to
air-cool. The cooling time is approximately one hour.
Normalized specimens are identified by blue paint on one
end.
quench as quickly as possible in the water bath
provided. Stir the specimen continuously and
vigorously, without dropping it, for about 30
seconds. If the quenching process is successful, it
will produce a hard martensitic microstructure.
Put this quenched (Q) specimen aside for the
moment. Quench the remaining three tensile
specimens in a similar manner.
As suggested by the time-temperature-transition
(TTT) plot in Fig. 3, the desired martensite will be
produced if the specimen can be quenched from
above 800C to below 240C in less than about one
second. Otherwise, it is likely that only the softer
components of ferrite and pearlite (ferrite +
cementite) will be produced instead.
3

2. Place two of the quenched specimens in the
smaller furnace, which will have been set at a
temperature in the range of 400C (750F) to 600C
(1100F). After about 30 minutes, remove these
specimens from the furnace and allow them to air-
cool on one of the ceramic tiles. This heat
treatment results in a tempering (T) of the hard
martensitic structure obtained when the material
was quenched; the unstable martensite decom-
poses into a fine-structured, stable solution of
(ferrite) and Fe
3
C (cementite).

3
Constant-cooling curves should be used in this discussion,
not TTT diagrams; however, the constant-cooling curves for
the ironcarbon system are very similar to TTT curves
above the bainite nose. See, for example, Callister (2000).
Suggested group tasks
A B C D
Quench 4 specimens; put 2 in tempering oven;
prepare 1 Jominy specimen; take notes on rest of lab
Observe microstructure of
A, N, Q, T
Rockwell test 1 Jominy
specimen; remove
tempered specimens from
oven
Perform Rockwell tests on
1 Jominy specimen
Observe microstructure of
A, N, Q, T
Rockwell-B
1 A, test in
tension
Rockwell-B
1 N, test in
tension
Rockwell-B
1 A, test in
tension
Rockwell-B
1 N, test in
tension
Rockwell-C
1 Q, test in
tension
Rockwell-C
1 T, test in
tension
Rockwell-C
1 Q, test in
tension
Rockwell-C
1 T, test in
tension
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0.1 1 10 10
2
10
3
10
4
10
5
Time (sec)
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

(
C
)
R
o
c
k
w
e
l
l
-
C

h
a
r
d
n
e
s
s
+
A
1
A
3
(austenite)
martensite
martensite +
bainite
b
a
in
ite

+
pearlite +
pearlite + +
M
s
M
f
23
30
39
49
62

Fig. 3. Time-temperature-transition curves for 1050 steel.
(Adapted from Askeland (1989), Fig. 12-8.)
TAM 224/CEE 210 Heat Treatment of Plain Carbon Steels 113
Tempering reduces the strength and hardness of
the steel, but increases its ductility and impact
properties.
3. Using a wire wheel, remove the scale from the two
specimens that your group will test. Determine
the Rockwell-B hardness of each of your
specimens by taking the average of three readings
on the grip end of the specimen that was not held
with the tongs during quenching. A self-centering
support platen should be used for this test.
Record the data in Table 1.
4. With each of your two specimens, perform an
instrumented tension test in the Instron testing
machine, taking the material to failure. Make a
detailed sketch of the fracture surfaces and final
shape of the specimen, and measure the final
diameter at the point of failure. Continue filling
out Table 1. Exchange necessary data with
another groupA with C, B with D, for example,
to complete the required descriptive information.
5. Using the Nikon microscope, observe the micro-
structure of previously prepared annealed,
normalized, quenched, and quenched-and-
tempered samples mounted in epoxy. Sketch the
structure of each type in Table 1.
Jominy hardenability
6. Using a dummy Jominy specimen at room
temperature, practice placing the specimen in the
end-quenching jig and turning on the recirculating
water pump. Turn off the pump and remove the
dummy specimen.
The actual Jominy specimen to be end-quenched
will have been placed in one of the electric
furnaces prior to the laboratory session at approxi-
mately 845C (for 1045 or 4140 steel) or 870C (for
6150 steel).
7. Under close supervision, remove the heated
Jominy specimen with tongs and gloves from the
electric furnace, place it in the jig, and turn on the
water pump. Observe the rate at which various
parts of the specimen are cooled (Fig. 2). Allow
the specimen to cool completely before removing
it from the jig.
8. Using a wire brush, wire wheel, or file, remove the
scale from the specimen. Then use a belt sander to
sand a narrow flat surface along the length of the
specimen for Rockwell hardness tests. Note.The
laboratory technician may have already used this
procedure to prepare a Jominy specimen for you to test.
9. Perform Rockwell hardness tests at several points
along the narrow sanded portion, using LabView
software to record and display the data. Concen-
trate most of the data near the cooled end.
Observe the range of hardness values obtained
and the positions along the length at which the
measurements are made.
10. (Optional) Using the Nikon microscope, observe
the differences in microstructure at various points
in the sectioned and etched Jominy samples
provided.
11.5. Analysis of Results
Heat treatment
1. Calculate the averages of the three Rockwell hard-
ness values for each sample. If a mixture of
Rockwell-B and Rockwell-C numbers is used, then
convert average Rockwell hardness numbers to
Brinell hardness numbers using the table in the
Compression and Hardness Lab or the conversion
chart reprinted below.
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Brinell hardness number, HB
R
o
c
k
w
e
l
l

B
-

&

C
-
s
c
a
l
e

h
a
r
d
n
e
s
s
V
i
c
k
e
r
s

h
a
r
d
n
e
s
s

n
u
m
b
e
r
,

H
V
Rockwell B
Vickers
Rockwell C

2. Plot nominal stressstrain curves for all four
specimens on the same graph. Label the curves.
3. Calculate the Youngs modulus E, the yield
strength
y
, the ultimate strength
u
, and the
percent reduction of area %RA for each sample
tested.
4. Complete Table 1 by filling in results from the
Tension Test lab.
Jominy hardenability
5. Prepare a graph showing the spatial dependence
of surface hardness along the axis of the Jominy
specimen.
114 Behavior of Engineering Materials TAM 224/CEE 210
11.6. Points for Discussion
Note.Your lab instructor will indicate which of the
following questions are to be addressed in your report.
Heat treatment
1. Discuss your sketches of the microstructures,
pointing out relevant differences between them.
2. Compare hardness values with the values of yield
strength and ultimate strength for each specimen.
Are these relations what you would expect?
3. Compare hardness values with your observations
of the microstructure. Explain in some detail.
4. Compare ultimate strengths, amount of plastic
deformation prior to failure, and apparent modes
of failure of all tensile specimens. Comment on
differences in loaddeflection behavior and give
reasons for these differences.
5. Discuss the applicability of equilibrium phase
diagrams, TTT diagrams, and constant-cooling
curves for the heat treatments considered.
6. State which heat treatment(s), if any, could give
rise to ultimate strength values that are strongly
affected by any surface flaws that may be present.
Justify your predictions.
7. Discuss any inconsistencies that exist in the
observed relation between hardness values and
ultimate strength, for the various heat treatments
considered in this laboratory session.
8. Determine the effect of the various heat treatments
on the value of Youngs modulus E. Be sure to
include data for the as-received material (from the
Tension Test lab).
Jominy hardenability
9. Describe the practical purpose of Jominy
hardenability testing. Why is the test devised so
that only one end of the rod is cooled?
10. Discuss the spatial dependence of hardness
observed in your sample. Rate your material with
regard to ease of hardenability.
11. Discuss any observed relations between micro-
structure in the Jominy specimen and your
hardness measurements.
11.7. References
Askeland, D. R. 1989. The Science and Engineering of
Materials, 2nd ed. Boston: PWS-Kent, Chapter 12.
Callister Jr., W. D. 2003. Materials Science and
EngineeringAn Introduction, 6th ed. New York:
Wiley, Chapters 911, esp. Sections 9.179.19,
10.510.9, 11.711.8.
Flinn, R. A., and P. K. Trojan. 1990. Engineering
Materials and Their Applications, 4th ed. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin. See Chapter 5, esp. Sections
5.5-5.6, for heat treatment, and Section 8.17 for the
Jominy hardenability test.
Van Vlack, L. H. 1980. Elements of Materials Science
and Engineering, 4th ed. New York: Addison-
Wesley, 364.
Young, J. F., S. Mindess, R. J. Gray, and A. Bentur.
1998. The Science and Technology of Civil Engineer-
ing Materials. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice
Hall, Section 13.3.

Notes
TAM 224/CEE 210 Heat Treatment of Plain Carbon Steels 115
Table 1Microstructure, tensile properties and hardness data
Measurement or property Material: _____ Steel
Quantity Symbol Units Annealed Normalized Quenched Tempered As Recd*
Processing
Microstructure produced (description)


Microstructure (sketch)


Initial data
Diameter d mm
Cross-sectional area A
0
mm
2

Gage length l
0
mm
Modulus and strength
Yield load P
y

kN
Maximum load P
max
kN
Yield strength
y

MPa
Ultimate strength
u
MPa
Youngs modulus E GPa
Type of behavior

Detail of fracture surface (sketch)


DuctilityPercent reduction of area
Final diameter d
f
mm
Final area A
f
mm
2

Percent red. of area %RA
Hardness tests
Rockwell hardness HR B or C
___, ___,
___ HR__
___, ___,
___ HR__
___, ___,
___ HR__
___, ___,
___ HR__

Average Rockwell HR B or C ______
HR__
______
HR__
______
HR__
______
HR__
______
HR__
Equiv. Brinell hardness HB
Test date: Group: Students name:
*Specimen used in the Tension Test lab Printed 7/17/03