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By H. E. Montgomery

Engineering trends for some years have been toward higher temperatures, both in process work and in steam generation. Progress in design has been dependent upon the development and evaluation of suitable alloys. Elementary knowledge of the limitations of copper-base alloys indicate their unsuitability for the higher ranges of operating temperatures; say, for steam to 950°F. Emphasis upon the more severe conditions perhaps is a reason why more complete evaluations have not been made for copper-base alloys over their range of suitability. However, the few studies made show clearly the need for more accurate evaluations. Some copper-base alloys long looked upon favorably because of superior room-temperature properties are not as desirable as some others perhaps not so "strong" and "hard," as measured by usual acceptance tests. Load-carrying capacity and structural stability arc two important factors. Structural stability as influenced by temperature, by presence of corrosive media, or by the effects of stress itself, frequently is a limiting factor. An early reference to creep properties of the cast copper-base alloys is that of Brown1 (Admiralty gun metal, Cu 87.5, Sn 10.1, Zn 2.3 and Pb 0.08). His tests were similar to present-day stress-rupture tests without measurement of creep elongrttion. Loading was in steps with usually 24 hr. between steps, and continued until failure. He advocated a "useful strength value" of 61/2 tons (I4,560 Ib.) per sq. in. at 572°F. (300°C.). A specimen broken in 1/2 hr. at 572°F. had a strength of 21 tons (26,880 Ib.) per sq. in. The strength values as determined by 1/2-hr. tests and those by the longer stress-rupturc start to differentiate at 392°F. (200°C). This is the temperature at which time at load began to play an important part. Bolton, Price and Hebemann2 give creep curves on 88-10-2 (A.S.T.M. B-60, CU 88, Sn 10, Zn 2) and steam or valve bronze (A.S.T.M. B-6I, Cu 87.50, Sn 6.00, Zn 3.75, Pb 1.70) at 500°F. Direct comparison of the two alloys under 7500 lb. per sq. in. stress showed the steam bronze (A.S.T.M. B-61) superior in creep strength to the 88-10-2 (A.S.T.M. B-60). The steam bronze shows no creep after 700 hr. (1540-hr. test). The 88-10-2 shows a rate of about 7.0 per cent in 100,000 hr. over the last 700 hr. of the test. Creep curves on the steam bronze are also given at the same temperature (500°F.) with loads of 6500 lb. per sq. in. and 8000 lb. per sq. in. These indicate "creep strengths" (creep rate within I per cent in 100,000 hr.) in excess of 8000 lb. per sq, in. for this alloy. It was found that higher percentages of tin are detrimental to creep resistance. This is caused by the presence of or formation during test of considerable alpha-delta eutectoid in the higher tin alloys. Bolton also states that the high

Jan 1, 1945

By H. E. Montgomery

H. L. Burghoff.*—I have a question, Dr. Smith. A number of the alloys you mentioned contain lead, which, of course, is present as discrcte particles. At what level of concentration does lead begin to play an important part in determining these elevated-temperature characteristics ? A. J. Smith.—That is a difficult question to answer because of the complicating features of the alloys that arc lead free. I do not know of any work done on the subject. But for comparison, 85-5-5-5 has about the same characteristics at, say 450°F. as 88-10-2, which is lead free or contains at most 0.30 per cent. Both 85-5-5-5 and 88-10-2 precipitate delta. The specification limit of usage is 406°F., temperature of saturated steam at

Jan 1, 1945

By T. L. Fritzlen

Extrusion of aluminum alloys in this country is performed mainly by direct extrusion, therefore this paper is confined only to factors affecting the rate of extrusion by this method. Many factors affect the rate of extrusion of aluminum alloys. It is the purpose of this paper to present a discussion on the factors that are subject to technical control. Most of them are closely related, so that a clear-cut distinction between them is rather difficult. However, an attempt will be made to evaluate the effect of each factor separately, as far as possible. The most important factors only will be considered, and these will be discussed in detail under three general headings: (I) characteristics of the equipment, (2) size and structure of the ingot, and (3) temperature of ingot, cylinder, and other parts. It is a well established fact1 that the pressure and the speed of extrusion are related and are exponential functions of one another. Therefore, whenever a certain condition tends, for instance, to increase the pressure required for extrusion, it will reduce the extrusion speed if the pressure is maintained constant. For this reason, in this paper the effect of various conditions is expressed either in regard to their effect on the pressure required or the extrusion speed. Another established fact is the relation- ship between the temperature of the material being extruded and the pressure required to extrude. According to Schi-shokin,= this relationship is of the exponential type, and as the temperature is increased the pressure required is decreased. It would seem from the preceding that the greatest rates of extrusion can be obtained by the use of higher temperatures. However, as is well known, other factors intervene to limit the rate of extrusion of aluminum alloys when increasing the temperature. These factors will be discussed in detail later. Characteristics of the Equipment The capacity of the press determines * the maximum unitary pressure that can be applied for any given cylinder diameter. Pressures used for extrusion of aluminum alloys range from approximately 50,000 lb. per sq. in. to 150,000 lb. per sq. in., dependent upon the alloy and the size of the shape extruded. Higher pressures could be used to advantage, but existing steels limit pressures employed in the production of extrusions. Numerous mechanical characteristics of the extrusion press affect extrusion rate. The most important characteristics of the press itself are: (I) sensitivity of the main pressure valve and accuracy of pressure gauges, (2) accuracy of equipment to heat the cylinder uniformly and to control cylinder temperature, and (3) accuracy of means of measuring the speed of extrusion. The variables subject to control during the extrusion operation are pressure, temperature, and speed, and it is evident that the preceding characteristics

Jan 1, 1946

By T. L. Fritzlen

Extrusion of aluminum alloys in this country is performed mainly by direct extrusion, therefore this paper is confined only to factors affecting the rate of extrusion by this method. Many factors affect the rate of extrusion of aluminum alloys. It is the purpose of this paper to present a discussion on the factors that are subject to technical control. Most of them are closely related, so that a clear-cut distinction between them is rather difficult. However, an attempt will be made to evaluate the effect of each factor separately, as far as possible. The most important factors only will be considered, and these will be discussed in detail under three general headings: (I) characteristics of the equipment, (2) size and structure of the ingot, and (3) temperature of ingot, cylinder, and other parts. It is a well established fact1 that the pressure and the speed of extrusion are related and are exponential functions of one another. Therefore, whenever a certain condition tends, for instance, to increase the pressure required for extrusion, it will reduce the extrusion speed if the pressure is maintained constant. For this reason, in this paper the effect of various conditions is expressed either in regard to their effect on the pressure required or the extrusion speed. Another established fact is the relation- ship between the temperature of the material being extruded and the pressure required to extrude. According to Schi-shokin,= this relationship is of the exponential type, and as the temperature is increased the pressure required is decreased. It would seem from the preceding that the greatest rates of extrusion can be obtained by the use of higher temperatures. However, as is well known, other factors intervene to limit the rate of extrusion of aluminum alloys when increasing the temperature. These factors will be discussed in detail later. Characteristics of the Equipment The capacity of the press determines * the maximum unitary pressure that can be applied for any given cylinder diameter. Pressures used for extrusion of aluminum alloys range from approximately 50,000 lb. per sq. in. to 150,000 lb. per sq. in., dependent upon the alloy and the size of the shape extruded. Higher pressures could be used to advantage, but existing steels limit pressures employed in the production of extrusions. Numerous mechanical characteristics of the extrusion press affect extrusion rate. The most important characteristics of the press itself are: (I) sensitivity of the main pressure valve and accuracy of pressure gauges, (2) accuracy of equipment to heat the cylinder uniformly and to control cylinder temperature, and (3) accuracy of means of measuring the speed of extrusion. The variables subject to control during the extrusion operation are pressure, temperature, and speed, and it is evident that the preceding characteristics

Jan 1, 1946

By W. R. Clark, W. W. Cotter

Jan 1, 1946

By W. W. Cotter, W. R. Clark

Jan 1, 1946

By Walter Craft, John L. Lamont

Adequate hardenability has long been recognized as one of the first requirements for producing desired mechanical properties in a heat-treated steel. Since the introduction of the Jominy end-quench test' and the development of correlative information to expand its use, industry has had an effective measure of hardenability. Prediction and control of the hardenability have been made possible by Grossmann's principle2 for calculating hardenability from chemical composition; and Field's conversiona from depth of half-martensite hardening to Rockwell C hardness has made the relation more quantitative. These developments have facilitated the design of new steels and the control of standard grades to the extent that it has been possible to establish tentative hardenability bands for some of the more commonly used alloy steels.4 As the depth of hardening of the Jominy test specimen is usually measured by Rockwell C hardness, it was considered that it should be possible to predict the hardness by a more direct calculation. It has been found that this can be accomplished by the addition of Rockwell C units proportional to the carbon and alloy content, grain size, and position in the Jominy test specimen. The calculation has been found to be fairly accurate, and because of its additive character is relatively simple to use. In principle the method of calculation is somewhat similar to the expressions developed by Herty, McBride, and Hollen-back,5 Burns, Moore, and Archer,= and Burns and Riege1.l The calculation is started from a base that includes the effects of carbon content and position in the Jominy test speimen. Rockwell C units are added to the base in proportion to the alloy content and grain size. This sum represents the Rockwell C hardness up to the level at which a disproportionate increase of hardness is caused by the formation of martensite, and above this level an increment for martensite hardening is added. The effects of alloys are directly proportional to the amounts present and are independent of each other, the carbon content, and the position in the specimen. Furthermore, the factors for determining the martensite increment are dependcnt only on carbon content and are independent of cooling rate and alloy content. It is this absence of interrelation between the different factors that makes it possible to calculate the hardness and makes the method of calculation consistent with the principle that the character of the hardening reaction is governed primarily by carbon and that alloys exert their effect chiefly through control of the critical cooling rate. The principle of the calculation, and the effects of alloys on the critical cooling rate,

Jan 1, 1947

By John L. Lamont, Walter Craft

Adequate hardenability has long been recognized as one of the first requirements for producing desired mechanical properties in a heat-treated steel. Since the introduction of the Jominy end-quench test' and the development of correlative information to expand its use, industry has had an effective measure of hardenability. Prediction and control of the hardenability have been made possible by Grossmann's principle2 for calculating hardenability from chemical composition; and Field's conversiona from depth of half-martensite hardening to Rockwell C hardness has made the relation more quantitative. These developments have facilitated the design of new steels and the control of standard grades to the extent that it has been possible to establish tentative hardenability bands for some of the more commonly used alloy steels.4 As the depth of hardening of the Jominy test specimen is usually measured by Rockwell C hardness, it was considered that it should be possible to predict the hardness by a more direct calculation. It has been found that this can be accomplished by the addition of Rockwell C units proportional to the carbon and alloy content, grain size, and position in the Jominy test specimen. The calculation has been found to be fairly accurate, and because of its additive character is relatively simple to use. In principle the method of calculation is somewhat similar to the expressions developed by Herty, McBride, and Hollen-back,5 Burns, Moore, and Archer,= and Burns and Riege1.l The calculation is started from a base that includes the effects of carbon content and position in the Jominy test speimen. Rockwell C units are added to the base in proportion to the alloy content and grain size. This sum represents the Rockwell C hardness up to the level at which a disproportionate increase of hardness is caused by the formation of martensite, and above this level an increment for martensite hardening is added. The effects of alloys are directly proportional to the amounts present and are independent of each other, the carbon content, and the position in the specimen. Furthermore, the factors for determining the martensite increment are dependcnt only on carbon content and are independent of cooling rate and alloy content. It is this absence of interrelation between the different factors that makes it possible to calculate the hardness and makes the method of calculation consistent with the principle that the character of the hardening reaction is governed primarily by carbon and that alloys exert their effect chiefly through control of the critical cooling rate. The principle of the calculation, and the effects of alloys on the critical cooling rate,

Jan 1, 1947

By G. R. Brophy, A. J. Miller

The Grossmann principle1 for the calculation of hardenability of steel from composition is attractive because of its simplicity. It postulates that the hardenability of a steel for any particular grain size may be expressed in terms of an ideal critical diameter, which is the product of an ideal critical diameter for a "pure" iron-carbon base multiplied by a succession of factors for each element of composition contained, including the incidentals. It infers that the multiplying factor for a given quantity of an element is constant for all combinations of composition. Gross-mann has stated that in the great majority of cases the experimental values of hardenability are found to be well within 10 per cent of the calculated values. The validity of the scheme has been confirmed in principle by Crafts and Lamont2,3 and by Kramer et al.4 Their results differ from the original in the magnitude of the effect of some elements but, since they accepted the product concept and followed its direction, it is to be ex~ected that similar results would be obtained. Crafts and Lamont, in their second Paper, recognized that the factor relations for manganese and nickel were not continuously linear, but beyond certain critical amounts increase sharply. Austin, Van Note and Prater6 demonstrated nonlinear relations between hardenability and alloy contents. Their curves for chromium, silicon, manganese and nickel were all convex upward to show decreasing incremental effects. They concluded that Grossmann's factors under-evaluate the hardening effect of low percentage additions of these elements, and overevaluate the larger additions. More recently W. Stevens has found that the factor method fails when applied to complex steels containing two or three principal alloying elements other than carbon. Multiplying factors derived from his results bear a complex relation to composition and are not constant for a given amount of an element as the base composition varies. C. A. Liedholm7 found that, using either the Grossmann or the Crafts-Lamont multiplying factor values, not only were the relative hardenabilities of two heats of S.A.E. 6130 chromium-vanadium steel

Jan 1, 1947

By A. J. Miller, G. R. Brophy

The Grossmann principle1 for the calculation of hardenability of steel from composition is attractive because of its simplicity. It postulates that the hardenability of a steel for any particular grain size may be expressed in terms of an ideal critical diameter, which is the product of an ideal critical diameter for a "pure" iron-carbon base multiplied by a succession of factors for each element of composition contained, including the incidentals. It infers that the multiplying factor for a given quantity of an element is constant for all combinations of composition. Gross-mann has stated that in the great majority of cases the experimental values of hardenability are found to be well within 10 per cent of the calculated values. The validity of the scheme has been confirmed in principle by Crafts and Lamont2,3 and by Kramer et al.4 Their results differ from the original in the magnitude of the effect of some elements but, since they accepted the product concept and followed its direction, it is to be ex~ected that similar results would be obtained. Crafts and Lamont, in their second Paper, recognized that the factor relations for manganese and nickel were not continuously linear, but beyond certain critical amounts increase sharply. Austin, Van Note and Prater6 demonstrated nonlinear relations between hardenability and alloy contents. Their curves for chromium, silicon, manganese and nickel were all convex upward to show decreasing incremental effects. They concluded that Grossmann's factors under-evaluate the hardening effect of low percentage additions of these elements, and overevaluate the larger additions. More recently W. Stevens has found that the factor method fails when applied to complex steels containing two or three principal alloying elements other than carbon. Multiplying factors derived from his results bear a complex relation to composition and are not constant for a given amount of an element as the base composition varies. C. A. Liedholm7 found that, using either the Grossmann or the Crafts-Lamont multiplying factor values, not only were the relative hardenabilities of two heats of S.A.E. 6130 chromium-vanadium steel

Jan 1, 1947

By H. E. Hostetter

Grossmann's method1 for calculating the hardenability of steel from the composition and grain size has gained wide acceptance, and when properly used, has been well proved in practical application, both for estimating the hardenability of known compositions and for selecting compositions to meet known hardenability requirements. The Grossmann method uses as the criterion of hardenadility the "ideal critical diameter," DI, which is the' size round that will just harden to a structure of 50 per cent martensite at the center when given the theoretically fastest quench, or "ideal quench." The DI can be related to actual quenching practice if the severity of quench is known; or the DI can be correlated with hardenability as determined by the Jominy end-quench method.2 The effect on hardenability of each element present in a steel can be represented by a multiplying factor, the value of which depends on the amount of the element present and the degree of effectiveness of the particular element. (The value of the factor for a given carbon content varies with the grain size.) When the factors for all elements present in a steel have been determined from charts, they are multiplied, and the resultant product is the DI of the steel. The validity of Grossmann's scheme of multiplying factors has been confirmed in a number of other investigations.3-6 It can be appreciated that a certain desired level of hardenability can be obtained by adding chromium, molybdenum, nickel and vanadium to a base composition containing carbon, manganese, silicon and the usual impurities. Many of the ranges of hardenability used commercially can be obtained by any of the foregoing alloying elements used singly in the base composition. The same hardenability levels also can be obtained through use of any of a great number of multiple element combinations of these alloying elements. In this report a method will be presented for determining what one combination is the most efficient (based on hardenability and cost of added alloy) for a given level of hardenability. It should not be assumed from the emphasis given to hardenability, that hardenability is the only criterion for the selection of an alloy composition. Such properties as the hot-working characteristics, machinability, carburizing characteristics, amount of distortion during quenching and the retention of austenite may be considerations of importance in many applications. However, hardenability is one of the most important properties of an alloy steel and one that must be considered in almost all cases involving heat-treatment by quenching. Therefore, a method for determining the lowest-cost alloy combination should be of considerable value. Determination of Most Efficient Combinations For comparing the alloying elements on standards of cost and hardenability, it

Jan 1, 1947

By H. E. Hostetter

Grossmann's method1 for calculating the hardenability of steel from the composition and grain size has gained wide acceptance, and when properly used, has been well proved in practical application, both for estimating the hardenability of known compositions and for selecting compositions to meet known hardenability requirements. The Grossmann method uses as the criterion of hardenadility the "ideal critical diameter," DI, which is the' size round that will just harden to a structure of 50 per cent martensite at the center when given the theoretically fastest quench, or "ideal quench." The DI can be related to actual quenching practice if the severity of quench is known; or the DI can be correlated with hardenability as determined by the Jominy end-quench method.2 The effect on hardenability of each element present in a steel can be represented by a multiplying factor, the value of which depends on the amount of the element present and the degree of effectiveness of the particular element. (The value of the factor for a given carbon content varies with the grain size.) When the factors for all elements present in a steel have been determined from charts, they are multiplied, and the resultant product is the DI of the steel. The validity of Grossmann's scheme of multiplying factors has been confirmed in a number of other investigations.3-6 It can be appreciated that a certain desired level of hardenability can be obtained by adding chromium, molybdenum, nickel and vanadium to a base composition containing carbon, manganese, silicon and the usual impurities. Many of the ranges of hardenability used commercially can be obtained by any of the foregoing alloying elements used singly in the base composition. The same hardenability levels also can be obtained through use of any of a great number of multiple element combinations of these alloying elements. In this report a method will be presented for determining what one combination is the most efficient (based on hardenability and cost of added alloy) for a given level of hardenability. It should not be assumed from the emphasis given to hardenability, that hardenability is the only criterion for the selection of an alloy composition. Such properties as the hot-working characteristics, machinability, carburizing characteristics, amount of distortion during quenching and the retention of austenite may be considerations of importance in many applications. However, hardenability is one of the most important properties of an alloy steel and one that must be considered in almost all cases involving heat-treatment by quenching. Therefore, a method for determining the lowest-cost alloy combination should be of considerable value. Determination of Most Efficient Combinations For comparing the alloying elements on standards of cost and hardenability, it

Jan 1, 1947

By Sidney Sigel, J. Gardner Brooks, Irvin R. Kramer

In 1942 Grossmannl proposed that the hardenability of a steel may be calculated from its chemical composition by considering the base hardenability associated with its carbon content and grain size and multiplying this base by factors for each element present. Since Grossmann's original publication, several investigaton2-6 have reexamined the multiplying factors for the individual elements and in general have found that the multiplying principle is valid. However, some of the individual factor curves developed have been in poor agreement. Inasmuch as the carbon-factor curve obtained by Grossmann was dependent Lipon the factors for all the other alloying elements present in the steel, it logically followed that his results were in need of correction in the light of the new data available for manganese, silicon, and the other alloying elements. Furthermore, in order to avoid the possibility that errors in the manganese, silicon, or other curves might influence the carbon-factor curve, investigation of iron-carbon alloys containing little or no manganese and silicon was necessary. That the effect of carbon on hardenability was greater than indicated by Grossmann is shown by a comparison of the diameters of completely hardened rounds of iron-carbon alloys with the ideal critical diameter calculated from Grossmann's factors. These alloys have a greater hardenability in a finite quench than predicted by Grossmann's factors for an infinite quench (Table I). Among the other important variables that were in need of further investigation were the effect of deoxidation practice on the grain-size correction curves and the effect of stable carbide-forming elements on the depth of hardening. Most Of the work by Kramer, Hafner, and Toleman4 was done on silicon-killed steels. It was not known whether Gross-mann's grain-size correction curves, determined on aluminum-killed steels, was valid when applied to steels with different deoxidation practice. More data on the

Jan 1, 1947

By J. Gardner Brooks, Sidney Sigel, Irvin R. Kramer

In 1942 Grossmannl proposed that the hardenability of a steel may be calculated from its chemical composition by considering the base hardenability associated with its carbon content and grain size and multiplying this base by factors for each element present. Since Grossmann's original publication, several investigaton2-6 have reexamined the multiplying factors for the individual elements and in general have found that the multiplying principle is valid. However, some of the individual factor curves developed have been in poor agreement. Inasmuch as the carbon-factor curve obtained by Grossmann was dependent Lipon the factors for all the other alloying elements present in the steel, it logically followed that his results were in need of correction in the light of the new data available for manganese, silicon, and the other alloying elements. Furthermore, in order to avoid the possibility that errors in the manganese, silicon, or other curves might influence the carbon-factor curve, investigation of iron-carbon alloys containing little or no manganese and silicon was necessary. That the effect of carbon on hardenability was greater than indicated by Grossmann is shown by a comparison of the diameters of completely hardened rounds of iron-carbon alloys with the ideal critical diameter calculated from Grossmann's factors. These alloys have a greater hardenability in a finite quench than predicted by Grossmann's factors for an infinite quench (Table I). Among the other important variables that were in need of further investigation were the effect of deoxidation practice on the grain-size correction curves and the effect of stable carbide-forming elements on the depth of hardening. Most Of the work by Kramer, Hafner, and Toleman4 was done on silicon-killed steels. It was not known whether Gross-mann's grain-size correction curves, determined on aluminum-killed steels, was valid when applied to steels with different deoxidation practice. More data on the

Jan 1, 1947

By L. D. Jaffe Hollomon, Hollomon John H.

For many steel parts it is desired to obtain the maximum toughness consistent with the strength required by the mechanical design. It is generally recognized that the greatest toughness at any given strength is found in steels having a tempered martensitic structure.' and is virtually independent of the composition of the steel2 (except for carbon). The choice of the composition of a steel for the parts in question should be based, therefore, on hardenability considerations and on manufacturing facility and economy. In a recent paper3 the concept of hardenability was discussed and a somewhat new approach to the problem was suggested. The hardenability was defined in terms of the cooling conditions (speed of cooling) required to avoid the pearlite and the bainite reactions. Since all the alloying elements do not have the same effects on the two reactions, the bainitic and pearl-itic hardenabilities must be considered separately. In order to design a steel for a given part, it is necessary to design a composition that has both sufficient pearlitic and sufficient bainitic hardenability. However, this requirement does not fix the combination of alloying elements to be used; an infinite number of steels would have the required hardenabilities. Other considerations limit the choice. For example, decreasing the carbon content increases the toughness at a given hardness, and for this reason low-carbon steels are often desired. Limitations or requirements of refining, casting, or forming practices often affect the level of some of the alloying elements. Price considerations enter. Frequently, however, it is very desirable to minimize the tendency toward quench-cracking while maintaining the necessary hardenability. This paper is concerned with suggesting a method for choosing compositions that will have the required hardenability together with minimum tendency toward quench-cracking. Quench Cracking Since only the case in which the entire part will transform to martensite in the particular quench employed is being considered, the analysis of the quench-cracking problem is somewhat simplified. Quench-cracking arises from the temperature gradients existing throughout the piece during cooling. Because of these temperature gradients, the contraction arising from the decreasing temperature and the expansion arising from the austenite-martensite reaction do not occur uniformly over the parts, and stresses are set up that tend to cause cracking. The temperature gradients can be reduced by decreasing the severity of quench. This, however, requires that the hardenability be correspondingly increased by increasing the carbon or alloy content. An

Jan 1, 1947

By Hollomon John H., L. D. Jaffe Hollomon

For many steel parts it is desired to obtain the maximum toughness consistent with the strength required by the mechanical design. It is generally recognized that the greatest toughness at any given strength is found in steels having a tempered martensitic structure.' and is virtually independent of the composition of the steel2 (except for carbon). The choice of the composition of a steel for the parts in question should be based, therefore, on hardenability considerations and on manufacturing facility and economy. In a recent paper3 the concept of hardenability was discussed and a somewhat new approach to the problem was suggested. The hardenability was defined in terms of the cooling conditions (speed of cooling) required to avoid the pearlite and the bainite reactions. Since all the alloying elements do not have the same effects on the two reactions, the bainitic and pearl-itic hardenabilities must be considered separately. In order to design a steel for a given part, it is necessary to design a composition that has both sufficient pearlitic and sufficient bainitic hardenability. However, this requirement does not fix the combination of alloying elements to be used; an infinite number of steels would have the required hardenabilities. Other considerations limit the choice. For example, decreasing the carbon content increases the toughness at a given hardness, and for this reason low-carbon steels are often desired. Limitations or requirements of refining, casting, or forming practices often affect the level of some of the alloying elements. Price considerations enter. Frequently, however, it is very desirable to minimize the tendency toward quench-cracking while maintaining the necessary hardenability. This paper is concerned with suggesting a method for choosing compositions that will have the required hardenability together with minimum tendency toward quench-cracking. Quench Cracking Since only the case in which the entire part will transform to martensite in the particular quench employed is being considered, the analysis of the quench-cracking problem is somewhat simplified. Quench-cracking arises from the temperature gradients existing throughout the piece during cooling. Because of these temperature gradients, the contraction arising from the decreasing temperature and the expansion arising from the austenite-martensite reaction do not occur uniformly over the parts, and stresses are set up that tend to cause cracking. The temperature gradients can be reduced by decreasing the severity of quench. This, however, requires that the hardenability be correspondingly increased by increasing the carbon or alloy content. An

Jan 1, 1947

By M. A. Grossman

Jan 1, 1947

By M. A. Grossman

Jan 1, 1947

By M. A. Orehoski, J. M. Hodge

It is now generally conceded that if a steel is to develop optimum physical properties in the conventionally quenched and tempered condition, the microstruc- ture after quenching should consist wholly of martensite; and that transformation of austenite to intermediate-temperature products during quenching will have a deleterious effect upon the physical properties, particularly the toughness, of the tempered material. This implies that, in order to obtain the optimum physical properties from a given steel, its "harden-ability " should be high enough to suppress all transformation except that to martensite under the heating and quenching conditions to which it will be subjected, and this premise is probably the most important reason for hardenability control. However, the criterion of hardenability that at present is most widely accepted and used is based on a microstructure of 50 per cent martensite. This criterion, which was suggested by Grossmann,' does have considerable justification. It may be readily measured by a fracture or etch test and, since it represents the point at which the hardness is changing most rapidly with variations in cooling rate, it may be determined empirically from a hardness-depth curve by determining the point of steepest slope (the inflection point). Furthermore, in plain carbon steels or in steels of low hardenability, the difference in hardenability expressed in

Jan 1, 1947

By J. M. Hodge, M. A. Orehoski

It is now generally conceded that if a steel is to develop optimum physical properties in the conventionally quenched and tempered condition, the microstruc- ture after quenching should consist wholly of martensite; and that transformation of austenite to intermediate-temperature products during quenching will have a deleterious effect upon the physical properties, particularly the toughness, of the tempered material. This implies that, in order to obtain the optimum physical properties from a given steel, its "harden-ability " should be high enough to suppress all transformation except that to martensite under the heating and quenching conditions to which it will be subjected, and this premise is probably the most important reason for hardenability control. However, the criterion of hardenability that at present is most widely accepted and used is based on a microstructure of 50 per cent martensite. This criterion, which was suggested by Grossmann,' does have considerable justification. It may be readily measured by a fracture or etch test and, since it represents the point at which the hardness is changing most rapidly with variations in cooling rate, it may be determined empirically from a hardness-depth curve by determining the point of steepest slope (the inflection point). Furthermore, in plain carbon steels or in steels of low hardenability, the difference in hardenability expressed in

Jan 1, 1947