Heat Treatment Part 2
Heat Treatment Part 2
Heat Treatment Part 2
METALLURGY
2131904
Prepared by
Prof. Naman M. Dave
Assistant Professor,
Mechanical Engg. Dept.
Chapter 8
Heat Treatment ProcessesGandhinagar Institute of Technology
Hypo-eutectoid Steels
Upper Critical Temp. :
(723-910OC) + 30-50OC
Eutectoid Steel
Critical Temp.
(723OC) + 30-50OC
Hyper-eutectoid Steels :
Lower Critical Temp.
(723OC) + 30-50OC
However, some special annealing
cycles (like spheroidise annealing
and process annealing) are carried
out below lower critical
temperature also.
Annealing
Holding Time
1 minute per mm of maximum thickness cross
section OR
1/2 hr. Per 1 inch of maximum thickness cross
section
Cooling Rate : Very slow e.g. 25-30OC per
hour. Refer CR1 shown in the T.T.T.
Diagram here. >
Cooling Medium : Cooling in furnace or heap
of ashes or in an insulated chamber
Final Micro-Structure
Hypo-eutectoid Steel : Coarse Pearlite + Ferrite
Eutectoid Steel
: Coarse Pearlite
Hyper-eutectoid Steel : Coarse Pearlite+Cementite
Annealing
Types of Annealing
There are different types of Annealing
Processes. Some of the most widely used
processes are
1.Stress Relief Annealing
2.Process Annealing
3.Spheroidize Annealing
4.Full Annealing
5.Bright Annealing and Black Annealing
6.Isothermal Annealing
Prof. Naman M. Dave
Annealing
Spheroidise Annealing
Spheroidise annealing is one of the variant of the annealing process that
produces typical microstructure consisting of the globules (spheroid) of
cementite or carbides in the matrix of ferrite. The following methods are used
for spheroidise annealing.
Holding at just below A1:Holding the steel component at just below the lower
critical temperature (A1) transforms the pearlite to globular cementite
particles. But this process is very slow and requires more time for obtaining
spheroidised structure.
Spheroidise Annealing
Thermal cycling around A1: In this method, the thermal cycling in the narrow
temperature range around A1 transforms cementite lamellae from pearlite to
spheroidal. Figure depicts a typical heat treatment cycle to produce
spheroidised structure. During heating above A1, cementite or carbides try to
dissolve and during cooling they try to re-form. This repeated action
spheroidises the carbide particles. Spheroidised structures are softer than the
fully annealed structures and have excellent machinability. This heat treatment
is utilized to high carbon and air hardened alloy steels to soften them and to
increase machinability, and to reduce the decarburization while hardening of
thin sections such as safety razor blades and needles.
Annealing
Annealing
Full Annealing
Full annealing process consists of three steps. First step
is heating the steel component to above A3 (upper
critical temperature for ferrite) temperature for
hypoeutectoid steels and above A1 (lower critical
temperature) temperature for hypereutectoid steels by
30-500C (Figures 1 and 2). In Figure 2, the terms ,
and Fe3C refer to ferrite, austenite and cementite
phases.
The second step is holding the steel component at this temperature for a definite
holding (soaking) period of at least 20 minutes per cm of the thick section to assure
equalization of temperature throughout the cross-section of the component and
complete austenization. Final step is to cool the hot steel component to room
temperature slowly in the furnace, which is also called as furnace cooling. The full
annealing is used to relieve the internal stresses induced due to cold working,
welding, etc, to reduce hardness and increase ductility, to refine the grain structure,
to make the material homogenous in respect of chemical composition, to increase
uniformity of phase distribution, and to increase machinability.
Isothermal Annealing
Annealing
Annealing
2. Process Annealing
3. Spheroidize Annealing
4. Full Annealing
Annealing
6. Isothermal Annealing
Annealing
Annealing
UCT-2
1130
960
910
763
723
700
650
Temperature (OC)
600
LCT
(3) Spheroidize Annealing Range
(2) Process Annealing Range
550
500
25
Time
Prof. Naman M. Dave
UCT-1
Hypo-eutectoid Steels:
Upper Critical Temp. (723-910OC) + 50-70OC
Eutectoid Steel:
Critical Temp. (723OC) + 50-70OC
Hyper-eutectoid Steels:
Upper Critical Temp. (723-1130OC) + 50-70OC
Normalizing
Holding Time
About 15 minutes
Cooling Rate : Slow e.g.
50-100OC per hour.
Refer CR3 shown in
the T.T.T. Diagram
here. >
Cooling Medium :
Cooling in still
ambient air
Final Micro-Structure:
Hypo-eutectoid Steel:
Fine Pearlite + Ferrite
Eutectoid Steel:
Fine Pearlite
Hyper-eutectoid Steel:
Fine Pearlite +
Cementite
Normalizing
Normalizing
1180
1130
Normalising Range
25
Time
UCT-1
LCT
Temperature (OC)
910
763
723
UCT-2
Hardening
Holding Time
1 minute per mm of maximum
thickness cross section OR
1/2 hr. Per 1 inch of maximum
thickness cross section
Cooling Rate >
Faster than Critical Cooling
Rate. For e.g. If CCR is 250OC
per hour then we
have to cool at say 250 + 30 to
50 i.e. 280-300OC. In other
words the
temperature
drop per hour
should be more than 250 OC.
Hardening
Cooling Medium :
Quenching medium are many. For e.g.
1) 5-10% Caustic Soda (Very Drastic Quench)
2) 5-20% Brine (NaCl)
3) Cold Water
4) Warm Water
5) Mineral oil
6) Animal oil
7) Vegetable oil
8) Air
Normally water is recommended for quenching of plain carbon
steels and oil is
recommended for quenching alloy steels
Prof. Naman M. Dave
Hardening
1130
Hardening Range
UCT-1
LCT
Temperature (OC)
960
910
763
723
UCT-2
25
Time
Prof. Naman M. Dave
26
Hardenability of Steels
Hardenability
Hardenability
Note :
Only the alloys highlighted in blue colour can
be full hardened
28
Hardenability
Factors affecting hardenability are as under...
Alloying content : Higher alloying means good
hardenability
Homogeneity of Austenite : Higher homogeneity
means good hardenability
Grain size of Austenite : Higher the size better is the
hardenability
Presence of un-dissolved carbides : Lesser carbides
better hardenability
Section of steel : Smaller the section better is the
hardenability
Quenching medium : Selecting the quenching
medium as per the size of the casting will give better
results for full hardening.
Tempering
Holding Time :
Tempering
Tempering
1) Induction Hardening
1) Nitriding
a) Gas Nitriding
b) Liquid Nitriding
2) Flame Hardening
3) Laser Beam
Hardening*
4) Electron Beam
Hardening*
2) Carburizing*
a) Solid / Pack Carburizing*
b) Gas Carburizing*
c) Liquid Carburizing
(Cyaniding)
3) Carbo-nitriding*
4) Chroming*
5) Boronizing*
Thermal Treatment
Induction Hardening
In Induction hardening, the steel part is
placed inside a electrical coil which has
alternating current through it. This induces
Eddy Current on the outer surface of the
component and heats it up.
Depending on the amperage of current,
frequency of current and heating time
depth of hardening can be controlled .
Temperature is around 750-800OC.
The heated region is then quenched by
water jets to achieve the desired hardness.
Tempering can be done to eliminate
brittleness.
Maximum 6 mm of depth can be achieved
in about 6 seconds time.
Example of application : Gear teeth
hardening
Prof. Naman M. Dave
Work
Piece
Coil
Work Piece
(Gear)
Coil
35
Thermal Treatment
Flame Hardening
(Stationary)
(MOVING)
Work piece
(Rotating)
(STATIONARY)
Flame hardening of a flat cross section work piece
Prof. Naman M. Dave
Flame Hardening
Thermal Treatment
The overall heat transfer is limited by the torch and thus the interior never
reaches the high temperature.
The heated region is quenched to achieve the desired hardness.
Tempering can be done to eliminate brittleness.
The depth of hardening can be increased by increasing the heating time.
Maximum 6 mm of depth can be achieved.
Flame Hardening
Thermal Treatment
Large parts, which will not normally fit in a furnace, can be heat-treated using
this method.
Example of application : Lathe Bed Hardening, Large Gears Teeth hardening,
Large Sprockets teeth hardening, etc.
Thermo-chemical Treatment
Nitriding
Introduction of nitrogen into the outer surface of steel parts in
order to give an extremely hard, wear resisting surface is called
as nitriding or nitrogen hardening.
Nitride compounds precipitate out during one of the following
processes
a) Gas nitriding - heat in ammonia
b) Liquid nitriding - dip in molten cyanide bath
A schematic layout of gas nitriding plant is shown in the next
slide.
Prof. Naman M. Dave
Gas Nitriding
The part to be nitrided is placed in a box made of
heat resistant steel. This box also has provision
for inlet and outlet of ammonia gas (2 holes
drilled on the walls one for inlet of ammonia
gas and another for outlet of ammonia gas)
The box (along with the component) is then
placed in the furnace and heated to around 450550OC.
Then a steady flow of Ammonia gas is injected
in the box.
On coming in contact with the steel, the
ammonia vapour gets dissociated and nascent
nitrogen is released. This nitrogen combines with
other elements in outer surface of steel like C, Si,
Mn, Ni, Cr, Mo, etc and forms nitrides which are
extremely hard. After that, quenching is done.
Case thicknesses are between 0.5 to 0.8 mm with
hardness up to 70 RC.
Prof. Naman M. Dave
Thermo-chemical Treatment
40
Carburizing
Thermo-chemical Treatment
Gas carburizing
Thermo-chemical Treatment
Gas Carburizing is conceptually the same as pack carburizing, except that gas is
supplied to a heated component through the furnace.
1. A mild carburizing gas is generated from LPG
(Liquified Petroleum Gas). This gas is fed into the
furnace containing the heated steel component.
2. Another method of gas carburizing is called liquid
feed or drip feed method. In this method, an organic
liquid such as a mixture of iso-propyl or methyl
alcohol with benzene is dripped directly into the
furnace for generating a specific furnace atmosphere.
In any case, the gas mixture breaks to form an
atmosphere containing N2, Ha, CH4, CO2, and H2
(due to heat). The component to be carburized is
heated externally and made to travel through this
atmosphere of the furnace and thus their surface
becomes rich in Carbon content. It is then quenched
to form a hard external surface whereas the core
remains soft and ductile. The depth depends upon
time and temperature of exposure to carbon rich
atmosphere.
Thermo-chemical Treatment
The steel parts are immersed in a molten carbon
rich bath maintained at 850-950OC for periods
ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours.
Sometimes the heating / holding can be intermittent
i.e. there can be two baths one at 850-950OC and
another at 760OC. This done so as to minimize the
distortion of shape of product during heat
treatment. After that quenching is done.
This process produces a thin, hard shell that is
harder than the one produced by other carburizing
methods, and can be completed in 3 hours
compared to several hours as in other methods so
the parts have less opportunity to become distorted.
Sketch on the left illustrates an electric salt bath
furnace used for cyaniding.
It is typically used on small parts such as bolts,
nuts, screws and small gears.
The major drawback of cyaniding is that cyanide
salts are poisonous. Therefore, safety concerns
have led to non-toxic baths that achieve the same
43
ELECTRIC SALT BATH FURNACE
result.
Thermo-chemical Treatment
Carbo-nitriding
Use both carbon and nitrogen hardness around 70 RC
maximum depth of hardened surface 0.07 0.5 mm
Chromizing
Pack or dip in chromium-rich material - adds heat and
wear resistance
Boronizing
Pack or dip in boron-rich material - Improves abrasion
resistance, coefficient of friction
Thermo-chemical Treatment
Thermochemical
Treatment
1.
Nitriding
70 RC
0.5 0.8 mm
2.
Carburizing
60 RC
0.025 - 4 mm
3.
CarboNitriding
70 RC
0.07 0.5 mm
4.
Chromizing
70 RC
5.
Boronizing
70 RC
Thank
You