You are on page 1of 32

MATERIAL SCIENCE &

METALLURGY
2131904

Chapter 8
Heat Treatment

Prepared by
Prof. Naman M. Dave
Assistant Professor,
Mechanical Engg. Dept.
Gandhinagar Institute of Technology.

Introduction

Prof. Naman M. Dave

In engineering, a successful product depends upon its design


and selection of MOC (Material of Construction).
If MOC is the best suitable for functions that a product has to
perform, it will make the product performance also the best.
Properties of material are dependent upon its crystal structure
and micro-structure.
For knowing the micro-structure of a material there are graphs
(Temperature vs. Composition) known as phase diagrams.
Phase diagrams are constructed based on a very important
assumption viz. the heating rate or the cooling rate of the
metal or alloy is very slow. This is called equilibrium cooling.
Suppose the micro-structure and the properties attained by very
slow cooling rate are not up to the mark then ... ???
The answer to this question is non-equilibrium cooling or fast
cooling of a metal or an alloy should be done from a
temperature above critical temperature so as to achieve
desired properties. This is known as Heat Treatment.

Definition
Heat Treatment is controlled heating and cooling of metals to alter
their mechanical properties without changing the product shape.

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Objectives
Steels are heat treated for one of the following purposes:
1) Softening : Softening is done to reduce strength or hardness,
remove residual stresses, improve toughness, restore ductility, refine
grain size of the steel. Restoring ductility or removing residual
stresses is a necessary operation when a large amount of cold working
is to be performed, such as in a cold-rolling operation or wiredrawing
2) Hardening : Hardening of steels is done to increase the strength and
wear properties. One of the pre-requisites for hardening is sufficient
carbon and alloy content. If there is sufficient Carbon content then the
steel can be directly hardened. Otherwise the surface of the part has
to be Carbon enriched using some diffusion treatment hardening
techniques.
Material modification
Relieving Internal Stresses
Improve machinability

Purpose of Heat Treatment

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Cause relief of internal stresses developed during


cold working, welding, casting, forging etc.
Harden and strengthen metals.
Improve machinability.
Change grain size.
Soften metals for further (cold) working as in wire
drawing or cold rolling.
Improve ductility and toughness.
Increase, heat, wear and corrosion resistance of
materials.
Improve electrical and magnetic properties.
Homogenies the structure; to remove coring or
segregation.
Spheroidize tiny particles, such as those of Fe3C in
steel, by diffusion.

A Typical Heat Treatment Cycle


1)

2)

3)

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Heat Treatment is done in


following manner...
The Steel is heated above a
specific
temperature called
Critical or Austenitizing
temperature.
After reaching the Austenitizing
Temperature, the steel is held at
that temperature for some time
known
as
holding
or
soaking
period.
Soaking
results in the formation of
homogenous
austenite
throughout the entire cross
section.
Steel with homogenous austenite
is cooled to room temperature.
The cooling rate depends upon
the properties required.
If necessary, the steel may be reheated to a temperature below
lower critical temperature (A1)
and cooled again (as in the case
of Tempering heat treatment).

Steps for Heat Treatment Cycle


Step-1 : Deciding the temperature of heating / holding / soaking /
Austenitizing; This can be done with the help of Iron-Carbon
diagram as shown below.
Step-2 : Deciding the time of holding / soaking / Austenitizing
depending on the maximum thickness of casting
Step-3 : Deciding the cooling rate required to attain a specific
micro- structure. This decision can be taken only with the help of
a T.T.T. or C.C.T. Diagram

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Cont. Cooling Transformation (C.C.T.) Dig.


Slow Cooling Rate

Time in region
indicates
amount of
microconstitu
ent!

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Cont. Cooling Transformation (C.C.T.) Dig.


Medium Cooling Rate

Cooling Rate,
R, is Change in
Temp / Time
C/s

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Cont. Cooling Transformation (C.C.T.) Dig.


Fast Cooling Rate

This steel is
very
hardenable
100%
Martensite in ~
1 minute of
cooling!
Prof. Naman M. Dave

Time-Temp.-Transformation (T.T.T.)
Diagram
A) Introduction
Iron-Carbon diagram predicts the micro-structure of final
product of Steels or Cast Irons after first stage manufacturing
(casting).
T.T.T. diagram predicts the micro-structure of final product
for Steels or Cast Irons expected after Heat Treatment.
There are different T.T.T. Diagrams for Hypo-eutectoid,
Eutectoid and Hyper-Eutectoid Steels and similarly there are
different T.T.T. Diagrams for different types of Cast Irons.
This diagram is also known as C-Curve, S-Curve or Baines
Curve or Iso-Thermal Transformation diagram.
It is known as C or S curve due to the shape of curves.
It is known as Baines Curve from the name of metallurgist.
It is known as Iso-thermal transformation diagram because it
shows the relationship between temperature and time for isothermal transformation / decomposition of austenite which in
turn decides the resultant properties of steel.
Prof. Naman M. Dave

Time-Temp.-Transformation (T.T.T.)
Diagram
B) Steps to construct T.T.T. diagram
1. Prepare a large no. of small specimens cut from the same
steel bar e.g. Eutectoid Steel bar.
2. Place the specimens in a furnace or molten salt bath
maintained at just above the austenitizing temperature. The
specimens are held at this temperature for long enough time
to form complete austenite.

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Time-Temp.-Transformation (T.T.T.)
Diagram

Prof. Naman M. Dave

3.

The specimens are then quickly transferred to molten


salt baths kept at constant temperatures below lower
critical temperature (A1) e.g. There can be 4 baths 700OC, 500OC, 400OC & 250OC.

4.

A given specimen is allowed to react iso-thermally for


a certain time, and then it is quenched (rapidly cooled)
in cold water. This quenching results in formation of
martensite from austenite. The time for iso-thermal
reaction of all specimens in a same bath (e.g. 700 OC
bath) is kept different e.g. 2 s, 4 s, 6 s, 8 s and so on
upto say 15 hrs. In other words it means each sample
is brought out of a bath after every 2 s and then it is
quenched.

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Time-Temp.-Transformation (T.T.T.)
Diagram
After cooling, the microstructures are observed.
6.
A graph of Time in
seconds on X-axis vs. %
of Transformed Austenite
on Y-axis is plotted for one
salt bath say 700OC.
This is one curve.
Similarly there are no. Of
curves depending on no. Of salt
baths say 500OC, 400OC,
250OC, etc.
It should be noted that
each curve has a start point (S)
and a finish point (F). Start
indicates the time when the
austenite started transforming
to other phases whereas F
indicates the time of 100%
completion
of
austenite
transformation (to other phases)
5.

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Cooling Curve 1:

very slow cooling rate, within a furnace


typical of conventional annealing.
Transformation product is coarse pearlite with low hardness (Rc15)

Cooling Curve 2:

Isothermal transformation
Salt bath
Harder then CC1

Cooling Curve 3:
Transformation will start at 3 with the formation of coarse pearlite
and finish at 4,
with the formation of medium pearlite Since there is a greater
temperature difference between point 3 and 4 than there is
between 1 and 2,
the structure will show a greater variation in the fineness of
pearlite and a smaller proportion of coarse pearlite as compared to
that of curve-a curve-b involves a faster cooling rate than curve a
(annealing) and may be considered typical of normalizing.
Cooling Curve 4:
This curve is typical of a slow oil quench and the microstructure
will be a mixture of medium and fine pearlite
Prof. Naman M. Dave

Cooling Curve 5:
This curve is typical of an intermediate cooling rate and austenite
will start to transform (at point 5) to fine pearlite as Ms line is
crossed,
the remaining austenite will transform to martensite.
The final structure at room temperature will thus consist of
martensite and fine pearlite.
Cooling Curve 6:
This curve is typical of a drastic quench, the substance remains
austenitic until the Ms line is reached, and changes to martensite
between the Ms, and Mf lines.
Cooling Curve 6(6-8):
It is possible to form I00% pearlite or 100% martensite by
continuous cooling, but it is not possible to form 100% Bainite.
cooling curve-e-f obtains a bainitic structure, by cooling rapidly
enough to miss the nose of curve and then holding in the
temperature range at which bainite is formed until transformation
is complete'
Prof. Naman M. Dave

Cooling Curve 7:
This curve is tangent to the nose of TTT curve.
The cooling rate associated with this curve is approximate
critical cooling rate for this steel.
Any cooling rate equal to or faster than this CCR (cooling rate
(CC-6)) will form only martensite and any cooling rate slower
than CCR (CC- 1 to 4) will form some softer transformation
products such as pearlite or bainite.

Critical Cooling Rate


Prof. Naman M. Dave

Various factors affecting


the critical cooling rate are:
1. Composition of steel
2. Temperature of hardening
3. Purity of steel
Prof. Naman M. Dave

Prof. Naman M. Dave

AUSTENITE GRAIN SIZE AND


GRAIN SIZE CONTROL
The grain size of steel nominally refers to the austenite grain size
i.e., the size of the austenite grains before the steel is cooled to
room temperature.
Grain size is a very important factor in relation to strength,
usefulness and other physical properties of steel and it is also
very important in developing fundamental theories of metallic
behavior.
Importance of grain size
Fine grains
increase impact toughness;
improve machining finishes; and
mitigate quenching cracks, distortion in quenching and surface
decarburization.
Coarse austenite grains
raise hardenability, tensile strength as normalized and creep
strength; and
improve rough machinability.
Prof. Naman M. Dave

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Grain size control

Nature and extent of deoxidizers


Chemical composition of steel
The method of manufacture of steel
Alloying elements
Metallic and non-metallic inclusions
Heat treatment processes

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Temper Brittleness
After being quenched and tempered steels lose impact resistance and
become brittle, If, after tempering, they are slowly cooled or held for
longer time in temperature range 600-300 C.
Example:
Steel with 3.5%Ni 1.5%Cr
Oil hardened: 810-850 C
Tempering: 150-650 C
Suffer Temper brittleness when tempered in the range: 250-400 C
Low resistance in Izod Test

Prevention of Temper Embrittlement


Reduction of harmful impurities in steel.
Accelerated cooling from the temperature of high-temperature
tempering (above 600 C);
Add small amount of molybdenum (0.2-0.37%); and
Subjecting the metal to high temperature thermo-mechanical
treatment.
Prof. Naman M. Dave

Over Heating of steel


If steel is heated well above the upper critical temperature
large austenite grains form.
Steel develops undesirable coarse grains
and if cooled slowly to room temperature,
it lacks both ductility and resistance to shock;
but it is not damaged. overheated steel

The grain structure of the overheated steel can be corrected by


1. Suitable Heat Treatment
2. Mechanical work
3. A combination of the above two
Prof. Naman M. Dave

Burning of Steels
A severely overheated steel
Indicated by the presence of a light etching network outlining the
austenite grain boundaries, when the steel is etched with alcoholic
solution of nitric acid, and of a dark-etching network when picric
acid is used.
The structure in a burnt steel, revealed by etching with nitro
sulphuric acid and ammonium nitrate are the reverse of those
obtained in the overheated steel,
Burning can occur at a temperature well below the solidus of an
alloy- of the same chemical composition

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Prof. Naman M. Dave

Thank

You
Prof. Naman M. Dave

You might also like