Heat Treatment of Forgings
Heat Treatment of Forgings
Heat Treatment of Forgings
M. K. SARKAR
Asstt. Divisional Manager, Tata Steel
INTRODUCTION
F-1
BASIC OF HEAT TREATMENT
The essential difference between ordinary steel and pure iron is the
amount of carbon in the former, which reduces the ductility, but
increases the strength and the susceptibility to hardening when rapidly
cooled from elevated temperature. On account of various microstruc-
tures which may be obtained by different heat treatments. The appear-
ance of structure of pure iron is typical, it is built up of a number of
crystals of the same composition given the name 'Ferrite' and is very soft.
The addition of carbon to the pure iron results in a considerable
difference in the structure which now consists of two constituents one is
pure iron i.e. "Ferrite' appears as white under microscope and the dark
parts representing the constituents containing the carbon. The carbon
is present as a compound of iron and carbon (6.67%) called "Cementite",
Fe3C. This is a hard and brittle constituent.
F-2
Fig-1 - is showing mechanical properties vs microconstituents
dependent on % carbon content in plain carbon steels
F-3
Alloy carburising steel forgings are usually subjected to high
temperature normalising prior to carburising to minimise distortion and
to improve machinability.
Annealing
F-4
"Guidelines for annealing"
F-5
7. To obtain minimum hardness in annealed hypereutectoid alloy
tool steels, heat at the austenitizing temperature for a long time
(about 10 to 15 hrs.) then transform as usual.
These rules are applied most effectively when the critical tempera-
tures and transformation characteristic of the steel have been estab-
lished and when transformation by isothermal treatment is feasible.
Full Annealing
Spheroidized Annealing
This is done by heating the steel just above or slightly below AC1
temperature for a prolonged time, followed by a slow cooling in order
to soften the steel as much as possible. It is adopted to spheroidize
the carbides of lamellar pearlite or secondary cementite.
F-6
Commonly four methods are practiced for this treatment :
Isothermal Annealing
F-7
Normalising
F-8
Multiple Normalising - This is done to obtain complete solution of
all lower temperature constituents in austenite by the use of high initial
normalising temperature (e.g. - 925°C) and to refine final pearlite grain
size by the use of a second normalising treatment at a temperature
closer to Ac3 temp. (e.g. - 815°C) without destroying the beneficial effects
of the initial normalising treatment. This is normally applied to carbon
and low alloy steels of large dimensions where extremely high forging
temperatures have been used (e.g. Loco axle forging) made of carbon
steels. Forgings made of a low carbon steel (o.18%) with 1% Mn
intended for low temperature service are double normalised to meet
subzero impact requirements.
F-9
The Structure, Properties and Heat Treatment 01 Metals
Mechanical
properties of steels as
a function of -
composition and
structure
Id
20
to
s w _...............1
merit'',
2 Ferrite
SO Pill"
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•
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1500
• 1400 134)3'
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1200
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1100
1000
900
Tempe ratu re. C
800
700..
100
400
300
200
100
/rant
0
Fe - • 2.0 2.5' 3.0 . 3 5 4.0 4.5
Weight Percentage Carbon.
Fig. 0. The Fe-C* equilibrium diF:gram up .to 7°A! carbOn. Solid; lines
indicate Fe-Fe3C diagram; dashed lines indicate
470)
St-ads Low C <0.2x = ItronS . Grey gn:401; ert:i
recryatalliaation
s removePTr
411111111 al stresses
o n erstresses gott ED
■ductility, toughness ThiN.
▪ equiaxed'ployednal ferritO
* no 'phase transformation
11 temp : below L.C.T. (Al) •46,0-7':,0-C
P 111M11111
hypereutectoid
fine P Cementite
• high carbon steels
• globu ar carbide In ferrlit) 111E401Ilne
•F 'C
1100 2012 1003
_ F.
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1000 1,32
2/44
1052
2552
alb 1472 1300
2372
700 292 120 0
2192
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2012
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" fully
Nor mellsed
► ile:111(M C111 bon
CO COW stillna emboli stool
steel
Effect of flecry:tallitation
1
annealing
temperature on
Recovery i Grain growth
Properties of
cold•worked metal
C . Clain
suucnne
Annealing temperate ra
10
T 1 A4E TEA--(17-wer.
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et
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TRANSF0/2/2447/0,0
T/A4C TEMPER/4702F-
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1) Grain Size a prior au; fijnite g.s.
2, 06Q
. hor,Qogenous aus
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ler F.,; ‘At Gogfititt
Grain increase .
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e!" 474,
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04,
8 sec Z
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15 sec (c )
. Formation of austenite (light patches) (ton
pcariite as a function of thee. (Ref 7.10)
t4
(0)
Martensitic microstructures with prior noskolle pain sizes of
(a) ASTM No. 1; (b) ASTM No. 3; (c) ASTM No. 5; (c1) ASTM No. 7; and
(o) ASTM No. 9. These microsinrchnes were preparvif by lit:1111y teniperina
,still in .1 firltuchlurit. lru.nc aid solution its .11culiul. Mognificallori,
IOU thawn here di JO.:'9. Mel 7.10)