Effect of Tempering Temperature on Mechanical Properties of Medium Carbon Steel

  IJETT-book-cover  International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT)          
  
© 2014 by IJETT Journal
Volume-9 Number-15
Year of Publication : 2014
Authors : S.A Tukur , M. M Usman , Isyaku Muhammad , N. A Sulaiman
  10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V9P350

Citation 

S.A Tukur , M. M Usman , Isyaku Muhammad , N. A Sulaiman. "Effect of Tempering Temperature on Mechanical Properties of Medium Carbon Steel", International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT), V9(15),798-800 March 2014. ISSN:2231-5381. www.ijettjournal.org. published by seventh sense research group

Abstract

Un tempered martensitic steels, while very hard are too brittle to be useful for most applications. Most applications require that quenched part be tempered, so as to impact some toughness and further improve ductility. Current work reports and analyzes results of mechanical testing was performed on variously heat treated medium carbon steel samples, to arrive at an optimum heat treatment strategy for judicious combination of hardness and tensile properties. Tensile and hardness test specimens were fabricated using Lathe machine. These samples were subjected to various heat treatment sequences, consisting of full annealing, hardening, oil quenching, and tempering at different temperatures. Heat treated samples were then mechanically tested for hardness (Rockwell) and tensile properties (yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, ductility). Mechanical testing of medium carbon steel samples revealed that with increasing temper temperatures: (a) hardness first increases to a maximum and then gradually decreases; (b) yield strength first decreases, then increases, and then decreases again; (c) ultimate strength first increases to a maximum and then steadily decreases; and (d) ductility (% elongation) increases, and then decreases before continue to increases rather sharply. The optimum heat treatment strategy was found to be at tempering temperature of 250ºC for well balanced mechanical properties.

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Keywords
tempering temperature; medium carbon steel; microstructure; mechanical property; martensite