Table of Contents

No. Contents

1. Abstract

2. Introduction

3. List of Figures

4. Theory

5. Experimental Procedures

6. Results

7. Discussion

8. Conclusion

9. References
Abstract

This project investigated the effects of austenitizing temperatures and time on the
hardness of a steel. The most common test for studying these effects is the Jominy End
Quench test. In this test a sample of steel is heated into the austenite range for selected
temperatures and times and water spray quenched at one end, producing a varying cooling
rate across the sample. Currently the Jominy End Quench test focuses more on the
hardenability of the steel. An improved model for correlating the Jominy End Quench curves
and the resulting grain size curves proposed introduce a better defined heating and cooling
cycle. The improved model obtained will optimistically result in less time spent in research
and development. Through the process of preparing, etching, and observing the samples under
an optical microscope, microstructural shape of the specimen are obtained. The experimental
results show a difference between the prior austenitic grain size among the different heating
times and temperatures used. The conclusion compares the effects of temperature and time in
the grain growth of the prior austenitic grain size.
Introduction

The Jominy end quench test is used to measure the hardenability of a steel, which is a
measure of the capacity of the steel to harden in depth under a given set of conditions. This
considers the basic concepts of hardenability and the Jominy test. Knowledge about the
hardenability of steels is necessary to be able to select the appropriate combination of alloy
steel and heat treatment to manufacture components of different size to minimize thermal
stresses and distortion. The Jominy end quench test is the standard method for measuring the
hardenability of steels. This describes the ability of the steel to be hardened in depth by
quenching. Hardenability depends on the chemical composition of the steel and also be can
affected by prior processing conditions, such as the austenitizing temperature. It is not only
necessary to understand the basic information provided from the Jominy test, but also to
appreciate how the information obtained can be used to understand the effects of alloying in
steels and the steel microstructure.
List of Figures

Figure 1.0 : Vicker Hardness Tester

Figure 2.0 : Jominy End-Quenches Furnace

Figure 3.0 : Optical Microscope
Theory

The Jominy end quench test measures the hardenability of steel. This is the ability
of the steel to partially or to completely transform from austenite to some fraction
of martensite at a given depth below the surface, when cooled under a given condition from
high temperature. The quench and temper heat treatment uses this phase transformation to
harden steels. After tempering, the martensite microstructure gives the steel a good
combination of strength and toughness. Without tempering, martensite is hard, but brittle. To
select steels for a heat treated component, it is important to know their hardenability. The
hardening of steels can be understood by considering that on cooling from high temperature,
the austenite microstructure of the steel can transform to either martensite or a mixture of
ferrite and pearlite (figure 1). The ferrite/pearlite reaction involves diffusion, which takes
time. However, the martensite transformation does not involve diffusion and is essentially
instantaneous. These two reactions are competitive, and martensite is obtained if the cooling
rate is fast enough to avoid the slower formation of ferrite and pearlite.

The hardenability describes the capacity of the steel to harden in depth under a givenset of
conditions. For example, a steel of a high hardenability can transform to a highfraction of
martensite to depths of several millimetres under relatively slow cooling, such as an oil
quench, whereas a steel of low hardenability may only form a high fraction of martensite to a
depth of less than a millimetre, even under quite rapid cooling such as a water quench.

The steel sample is normalised (to eliminate differences in microstructure due to previous
forging) and then austenitised . This is usually at a temperature of 800 to 925°C, and
transforms the steel microstructure to austenite. The test sample is quickly transferred to the
test fixture, which quenches the steel as its prays a controlled flow of water onto one end of
the sample. The cooling rate varies along the length of the sample from very rapid at the
quenched end where the water strikes the specimen, to slower rates that are equivalent to air
cooling at the other end.
Iron-Carbon Cementite Phase Diagram

Partial Cu-Zn Phase Diagram

Age Hardening of Aluminum
Experimental Procedure

1) The specimen is heated in the Jominy End-Quench’s furnace until the temperature
reaches 900°C.
2) The water flow is the adjusted until the height reaches approximately 65mm (2.5
inches) at Jominy End-Quench test bench.
3) The safety pin is pulled out from the furnace so that the specimens fall down to the
quenching apparatus.
4) The water is applied within 5.5 seconds, care is taken so that the water strikes only
the bottom of the specimen.
5) The specimen was left in the quenching unit for few minutes until it is cooled
down.
6) The specimen was removed for hardness test and microstructure is evaluated using
microscope.
7) The Vickers hardness(1kg) readings was taken at 1 mm intervals for the first 10
mm, 5 mm intervals for the next 40 mm and 10 mm intervals for the remaining 50
mm length of the specimen.
Results

Distance 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(mm)
D1, mm 58.5 73.8 73.1 70.6 82.8 89.5 84.6 79.5 86.9 97.2 89.6

D2, mm 59.6 77.7 73.1 75.2 91.4 87.1 88.2 82.7 88.3 99.0 92.1

Hardness 531.8 323.1 346.7 249.1 244.6 237.9 248.5 282.0 241.9 192.9 224.5

Distance 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
(mm)
D1, mm 91.2 99.5 103.4 105.3 108.6 107.0 108.6 111.4

D2, mm 91.9 100.7 103.0 101.9 110.3 109.9 110.9 112.5

Hardness 221.3 185.0 174.1 172.7 154.8 157.6 154.0 147.9

Distance 60 70 80 90 100
(mm)
D1, mm 107.0 105.1 105.1 114.7 118.1

D2, mm 105.1 105.1 105.1 114.7 118.1

Hardness 164.8 167.8 167.9 140.9 132.9

Table of Distance, Diameter 1 and 2 of specimen and Vicker Hardness readings

References

1. https://www.quora.com/What-characteristics-define-ferrous-metals
2. http://www.engineersedge.com/manufacturing_menu.shtml
3. https://smithy.com/machining-handbook/chapter-2/page/9
4. https://www.coursera.org/learn/material-science-engineering/lecture/7RSYM/2-29-
precipitation-hardening-in-al-cu-alloys