Hardness of the Heat
Affected Zone
Mat E 481/681
Fall 2020
Alejandro Hintze Cesaro
PhD Candidate
Hardness after the Heat Affected Zone
Hardness of
Distance from Chemical
Martensite and
the Fusion Line Composition
other
(% Carbon)
constituents
Hardness of an
Grain Size + Specific Point
Austenite
Conditioning
Peak
Temperature Hardenability
% of Martensite
+ constituents
Welding
Parameters
(Heat Input) Cooling Rate
2
Hardenability
ASM Handbook Volume 4 A
Hardenability refers to the ability of steel to obtain
satisfactory hardening to some desired depth when
cooled under prescribed conditions. Hardening is
achieved by transformation of austenite to
martensite, and the extent of martensite formation § Austenite Chemical Composition
depends on the necessary cooling rate to rapidly cool
austenitized steel below the martensite-start § Austenite Grain Size
temperature without significant transformation of § Second Phases present
austenite into pearlite or other transformation
products (see the preceding article, “Introduction to
Steel Heat Treatment,” in this Volume). Thus, steels
that exhibit deep hardening (martensite formation)
are considered to have high hardenability, while those
that exhibit shallow martensitic hardening are of low
hardenability.
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Prediction of the Hardness after the Heat
Affected Zone
Experimental
• CCT diagrams for Welding.
• You will not always find the right diagram for your
material.
• Experiments (weld coupons, dilatometry, Gleeble®, etc)
Empirical Formulas cost more time and money but it’s the most accurate
approach.
• Each experiment is unique chemical composition,
minimal addition of certain alloying elements can have
a significant effect on the hardenability.
Computational
Calculations
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Prediction of the Hardness after the Heat
Affected Zone
Experimental
• Simple and free Formulas derived from the statistical
evaluation of experiments. Can be used in a spreadsheet to
have an immediate estimation of the HAZ
Empirical Formulas • Several models available in literature. Usually designed for
specific range of chemical composition and cooling rates.
They requires knowledge and criteria from the user.
Carelessly use of the equation can lead to erroneous
estimations.
Computational
Calculations
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Prediction of the Hardness after the Heat
Affected Zone
Experimental
• Physical Metallurgical Models of phase transformation
require enormous calculation power and knowledge.
• Neural Networks or Deep Learning models are based on
treatment of experimental data but requires a software
Empirical Formulas algorithm.
• Designed for specific range of composition and cooling
rates.
• Commercial Software they are simpler to use but they are
expensive.
Computational • They are not much more accurate than empirical
Calculations formulas used correctly.
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Hardness prediction models
• Experimental:
– CCT Diagrams for Welding (e.g Grosse Atlas)
• Empirical:
– Beckert (1973)
– Le Creusot (1975 – 1978)
– Arata (1979)
– Terasaki (1979)
– Lorenz & Duren (1981)
– Suzuki (1984)
– Cotrell (1984)
– Ion (1984)
– Boothby (1985)
– Yurioka (1981, 1987)
– Abson (2008)
• Computational
– Modeling Phase Trans: Kirkaldy/Bhadeshia
– Neural Networks, Deep Learning: Bhadeshia/Chan
– Commercial Software (Jmat Pro, MatCal, etc)
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Yurioka’s model to predict the maximum hardness in the
HAZ
Characteristic
Hardness Fitting
Carbon Values
Chemical
Equivalent
Composition
values
Characteristic
Hardness vs
Cooling Rate
t8/5 diagram
Values
formula
t8/5 of interest
Maximum HAZ
Hardness
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Effect of Boron on hardenability
Carbon
Equivalent
values
Characteristic
Hardness
Values
Characteristic
Cooling Rate
Values
-
Hardness vs
t8/5 diagram
formula
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Problem 1. Determine from the CCT the maximum hardness of the heat
affected zone for a t8/5 of 8 s. Then estimate using Yuruioka’s model the
hardness.
How do we know is the
maximum hardness?
Which cooling curve
represents a t8/5 of 8 s?
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Problem 1. Determine from the CCT the maximum hardness of the heat
affected zone for a t8/5 of 8 s. Then estimate using Yuruioka’s model the
hardness. Peak temperature 1350 C
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0.27C-0.02Si-0.37Mn
Carbon
Equivalent
values
Characteristic
Hardness
Values
Characteristic
Cooling Rate
Values
Hardness vs -
t8/5 diagram t8/5= 8s
formula
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0.27C-0.02Si-0.37Mn
0.27
Carbon
Equivalent
0.33
values
0.34
0.37
Characteristic
Hardness
Values 0.27 s
516
Characteristic 21 s
Cooling Rate
182
Values
Hardness vs - 320
t8/5 diagram t8/5= 8s
formula 1.10
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Problem 2. According to Yurioka’s model, maximum hardness with a
t8/5 of 8 s is 320 HV.
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Problem 2. Estimate the maximum hardness for a process which t8/5 is
1, 4, and 10 s for a steel with the given composition: 0.1C-0.23Si-
0.35Mn-1.97Cr. Where is located this point of maximum hardness?
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0.1C-0.35Mn-0.23Si-1.97Cr Problem 2. Estimate the
maximum hardness for a
Carbon process which t8/5 is 1, 4,
Equivalent
values and 10 s for a steel with
the given composition:
0.1C-0.23Si-0.35Mn-
Characteristic
Hardness
1.97Cr. Where is located
Values this point of maximum
hardness?
Characteristic
Cooling Rate
Values
Hardness vs t8/5= 1 s -
t8/5 diagram t8/5= 4 s
formula
t8/5= 10 s
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0.1C-0.35Mn-0.23Si-1.97Cr
Carbon 0.1
Equivalent
values 0.36
0.57
0.59
Characteristic
Hardness 0.37 s
Values 378
81 s
Characteristic 236
Cooling Rate
Values
t8/5= 1 s - 365
Hardness vs
t8/5 diagram t8/5= 4 s 322
formula 280
t8/5= 10 s
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Comparing Yurioka’s model vs Experimental
A(378, 0.37)
B(236, 81)
Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagram
From
800 °C to 500 °C
t8/5: 10 s
t8/5: 1 s
t8/5: 4 s
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Can we predict hardness of any specific point of the HAZ? Not
necessarily the Maximum?
Different points of the HAZ will have associated different peak
temperatures and hence different austenite grain sizes. This will affect
the hardenability.
Some models available in literature, estimates the HAZ hardness by
splitting the problem into three parts. This allow us to use these models
to estimate not only the maximum hardness of the HAZ.
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1. First determine the amount of phases formed during cooling as a
function of the chemical composition and the peak temperature. An
“austenization parameter” (which is intimately related to the grain
growth of austenite at high temperatures) is used to evaluate the
effect of different peak temperatures
2. Second predicts the hardness of each constituent as a function of the
chemical composition and the cooling rate.
3. Using a rule of mixtures, the hardness of any point is given by the
combination of the hardness and the volume fraction of each
constituent.
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