Hardness, HRC

60 40 20 0 150

50CrM04

Ck45

48 or 45 HRC Hardness at 50 % martensite

H = 5.0

Diameter, mm

100 50 0

H = 0.4

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Distance from quenched end, mm

FIGURE 5.48 Determining the critical diameter of round bars (i.e., the hardness of 50% martensite at the center) from the Jominy hardenability curves of two steel grades quenched in vigorously agitated brine (H 5.0) and in moderately agitated oil (H 0.4). (Steel grade designation according to DIN.) rmebehandeln, Carl Hanser, (From G. Spur (Ed.), Handbuch der Fertigungstechnik, Band 4=2, Wa Munich, 1987, p. 1012.)

5.5.1 LAMONT METHOD

The diagram shown in Figure 5.47 permits the prediction of hardness only at the center of round bars. Lamont [32] developed diagrams relating the cooling rate at a given Jominy distance to that at a given fractional depth in a bar of given radius that has been subjected to a given Grossmann quenching intensity (H) factor. Analytical expressions have been developed for the Lamont transformation of the data to the appropriate Jominy distance J: J J (D, r=R, H ) (5:18)

where D is the diameter of the bar, r=R the fractional position in the bar (r=R 0 at the center; r=R 1 at the surface), and H the Grossmann quenching intensity factor. These expressions [33] are valid for any value of H from 0.2 to 10 and for bar diameters up to 200 mm (8 in.). Lamont developed diagrams for the following points and fractional depths on the cross section of round bars: r=R 0 (center), r=R 0.1, r=R 0.2, . . . , r=R 0.5 (half-radius), r=R 0.6, . . . , r=R 1.0 (surface). Each of these diagrams is always used in connection with Jominy hardenability curve for the relevant steel. Figure 5.49 through Figure 5.51 show the Lamont diagram for r=R 0 (center of the cross section), r=R 0.5, and r=R 0.8, respectively. The Lamont method can be used for four purposes: 1. To determine the maximum diameter of the bar that will achieve a particular hardness at a specified location on the cross section when quenched under specified conditions. For example, if the Jominy hardenability curve of the relevant steel grade shows a hardness of 55 HRC at a Jominy distance of 10 mm, then the maximum diameter of the bar that will achieve this hardness at half-radius when quenched in oil with H 0.35 will be 28 mm. This result is obtained by using the diagram in Figure 5.50 for r=R 0.5 and taking the vertical line at a Jominy distance of 10 mm to the intersection with the curve for H 0.35, giving the value of 28 mm on the ordinate.

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

0
1.0

10

15

20
r =0 R

30

37.5 40

50 mm
5.0 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.70

160 140 Bar diameter, mm 120 100 80 60 50 40 20 0

in. 6.0 r 5.0 R 4.0

0.35

0.20 3.0

2.0

1.0

1 1 1 1 Distance from the quenched end, in.

FIGURE 5.49 Relation between distance from the quenched end of Jominy specimen and bar diameter for the ratio r=R 0, i.e., the center of the cross section, for different quenching intensities. (From J.L. Lamont, Iron Age 152:6470, 1943.)

2. To determine the hardness at a specified location when the diameter of the bar, the quenching intensity H, and the steel grade are known. For example, if a 120-mm diameter bar is quenched in still water (H 1.0), the hardness at the center (r=R 0) will be determined at a distance of 37.5 mm from the quenched end on the Jominy curve of the relevant steel grade (see Figure 5.49).
in. 0 10.0 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0
0.2
r R

mm 240 220 200 180 Bar diameter 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 28 20 0

10
r = 0.5 R

20

30

40

50 mm

0.5 0.35

3.0 2.0 1.0 0 1 1 Distance from the quenched end, in. 2

FIGURE 5.50 Relation between distance from the quenched end of Jominy specimen and bar diameter for the ratio r=R 0.5, i.e., 50% from the center, for different quenching intensities. (From J.L. Lamont, Iron Age 152:6470, 1943.)

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Quenching intensity H

5.0 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.70

Quenching intensity H

0.50

mm 240 220 200 180 Bar diameter 160 140 120 100 80 76 60 40 20 0

in. 10.0 9.0

10 15 20

30

40

50 mm

0.6 5 2 1.5 1.0 0.7 0.5

8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0

0.35 0.2

r = 0.8 R

r R

1/2 1 11/2 Distance from the quenched end, in.

FIGURE 5.51 Relation between distance from the quenched end of Jominy specimen and bar diameter for the ratio r=R 0.8, i.e., 80% from the center, for different quenching intensities. (From J.L. Lamont, Iron Age 152:6470, 1943.)

3. To select adequate quenching conditions when the steel grade, the bar diameter, and the location on the cross section where a particular hardness should be attained are known. For example, a hardness of 50 HRC, which corresponds to the distance of 15 mm from the quenched end on the Jominy curve of the relevant steel grade, should be attained at the center of a 50-mm diameter bar. The appropriate H factor can be found by using Figure 5.49. In this case, the horizontal line for a 50-mm diameter and the vertical line for a 15-mm Jominy distance intersect at the point that corresponds to H 0.5. This indicates that the quenching should be done in oil with good agitation. If the required hardness should be attained only up to a certain depth below the surface, the fractional depth on the cross section must be first established to select the appropriate transformation diagram. For example, if 50 HRC hardness, which corresponds to a distance of 15 mm from the quenched end on the Jominy curve of the relevant steel grade, should be attained at 7.6 mm below the surface of a 76-mm diameter bar, then r 38 7:6 0: 8 R 38 (5:19)

This calculation indicates that the diagram for r=R 0.8 (Figure 5.51) should be used. In this case, the horizontal line for 76 mm diameter intersects the vertical line for 15-mm Jominy distance on the interpolated curve H 0.6. This indicates that quenching should be performed in oil with strong agitation (see Table 5.1). 4. To predict the hardness along the radius of round bars of different diameters when the bar diameter and steel grade and its Jominy curve and quenching intensity H are

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Quenching intensity H

known. For this calculation, diagrams for every ratio r=R from the center to the surface should be used. The following procedure should be repeated with every diagram. At the point where the horizontal line (indicating the bar diameter in question) intersects the relevant H curve, the vertical line gives the corresponding distance from the quenched end on the Jominy curve from which the corresponding hardness can be read and plotted at the corresponding fractional depth. Because some simplifying assumptions are made when using Lamont diagrams, hardness predictions are approximate. Experience has shown that for small cross sections and for the surface of largediameter bars, the actual hardness is usually higher than predicted.

5.5.2 STEEL SELECTION BASED

ON

HARDENABILITY

The selection of a steel grade (and heat) for a part to be heat-treated depends on the hardenability that will yield the required hardness at the specified point of the cross section after quenching under known conditions. Because Jominy hardenability curves and hardenability bands are used as the basis of the selection, the method described here is confined to those steel grades with known hardenability bands or Jominy curves. This is true first of all for structural steels for hardening and tempering and also for steels for case hardening (to determine core hardenability). If the diameter of a shaft and the bending fatigue stresses it must be able to undergo are known, engineering analysis will yield the minimum hardness at a particular point on the cross section that must be achieved by hardening and tempering. Engineering analysis may show that distortion minimization requires a less severe quenchant, e.g., oil. Adequate toughness after tempering (because the part may also be subject to impact loading) may require a tempering temperature of, e.g., 5008C. The steps in the steel selection process are as follows: Step 1. Determine the necessary minimum hardness after quenching that will satisfy the required hardness after tempering. This is done by using a diagram such as the one shown in Figure 5.52. For example, if a hardness of 35 HRC is required after hardening and then tempering at 5008C at the critical cross-sectional diameter, the minimum hardness after quenching must be 45 HRC.

60 As-quenched hardness, HRC 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 15

Tempered 500C/ 60 min Tempered 600C/ 60 min

20 25 30 35 40 Tempered hardness, HRC

45

FIGURE 5.52 Correlation between the hardness after tempering and the hardness after quenching for structural steels (according to DIN 17200).

2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.