The Role of ZnO Nano-fluids on Heat Treatments of Medium Carbon Steel

Abstract

Conventional quenching versus ZnO-NP emulsion and heat treatments for medium carbon steel (CK45) has been carried out in laboratory environment condition. For comparison, the mechanical properties of CK45 and microstructure were examined. The main parameter focused in this work was the concentration of ZnO-NP in deionized water. Thus, emulsion represents a quenching medium for CK45 specimens. Optical microscope analysis for CK45 microstructure, hardness and tensile test for all specimens were done to evaluate the role of nano ZnO additives as quenching media at different concentration. Experimental results reveal that the addition of nanoparticles to the base fluid (water) astonishingly enhanced some mechanical properties as tensile strength and yield stress. 2wt.% of ZnO-NP raised the yield 14.8% and the UTS by 16.9%.