Effecting Quench Agitation by Immersion Speed Variation of C30 Carbon Steel and Mechanical Properties Examination

Abstract

A study of quench agitation by immersion speed variation was carried out on a C30 carbon steel material and examination of resulting mechanical properties. Quenching was carried out in a special extended height bath under conditions of constant bath temperature and a variable immersion speed. Material thermal history data was taken during the quench process and mechanical properties comprising of hardness and tensile strength of material were examined thereafter. Immersion speed variation was effected by a variable weight-force application acting on the quenched C30 specimen falling freely through an extended height quench bath. At immersion speeds of 0.106, 0.697, 0.853, 1.065 and 1.139 m/s; the yield strength of the material are 310.40, 496.12, 500.56, 565.40 and 579.92 MN/m 2 respectively while at a typical location of radius 15 mm on specimen mid-height the corresponding hardness values at the respective immersion speeds are 275, 293.40, 454.60, 408 and 594 VHN. There is an enhancement of mechanical strength with immersion speed increase.