ISSN: 2350-0328

International Journal of Advanced Research in Science,

Engineering and Technology
Vol. 6, Issue 7 , July 2019

A Study of Heat Treatment of Steel

SUJIT KUMAR GARAI, SUJAY BISWAS, SOURAV PANDA, SHAYAN KUMAR

Lecturer, Department of Mechanical engineering, Technique Polytechnic Institute, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.
In charge, Department of Mechanical engineering, Technique Polytechnic Institute, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.
Lecturer, Department of Mechanical engineering, Technique Polytechnic Institute, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.
Technical Asst., Department of Mechanical engineering, Technique Polytechnic Institute, Hooghly, West Bengal, India.

ABSTRACT:The importance of various form of heat treatment operations on steels in order to forester the problem
that may arise in making a wrong choice of these steel materials or faulty heat treatment operations which may give rise
to serious disruption in terms of human safety, higher cost and untimely failure of the machine components is of great
concern. The mechanical properties such as ductility, toughness, strength, hardness and tensile strength can easily be
modified by heat treating the steels to suit a particular design purpose. Tensile specimens were produced from medium
carbon steel and were subjected to various forms of heat treatment processes like annealing, normalizing, hardening and
tempering. The stiffness, ductility, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and hardness of the heat treated samples
were observed from their stress-strain curve. The value of the yield strength (σ y) was observed to be higher for the
tempered specimen possibly as a result of the grain re-arrangement, followed by the hardened, normalized and annealed
specimens. The ultimate tensile strength were also observed to be in the order – Hardened > Tempered > Normalized >
Annealed.

KEY WORDS: Hardness, Brittleness, Pearlite, Bainite, Marten site.

[Link]

It is impossible to determine the precise number of steel compositions and other variations that presently exist, although
the total number probably exceeds 1000; thus, any rigid classification is impossible. According to American Iron and
Steel Institute (AISI). Steels are arbitrarily divided into five groups, which has proved generally satisfactory to the
metalworking community. These five classes are: 1) Carbon steels 2) Alloy steels (sometimes referred to as low-alloy
steels) 3) Stainless steels 4) Tools steels 5) Special-purpose steels.

II. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SYSTEM

The paper mainly focuses on how heat treatment process is applied in different steel according to requirement. In
section III a literature review is explained and Methodology &experimental results of the study are explained in section
IV, and section V discusses the future study and Conclusion.

III. LITERATURE SURVEY

Steel is an important material because of its tremendous flexibility in metal working and heat treating to produce a wide
variety of mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. Pure iron solidifies from the liquid at 1538 _C (2800 _F) (top
of Fig.1). A crystalline structure, known as ferrite, or delta iron, is formed (point a, Fig. 1). This structure, in terms of
atom arrangement, is known as a body-centered cubic lattice (bcc), shown in Fig. 2(a). This lattice has nine atoms—one
at each corner and one in the center. As cooling proceeds further and point b (Fig. 1) is reached (1395 _C, or 2540 _F),
the atoms rearrange into a 14-atom lattice a shown in Fig.2(b). The lattice now has an atom at each corner and one at
the center of each face. This is known as a face-centered cubic lattice (fcc), and this structure is called gamma iron. As
cooling further proceeds to 910 _C (1675 _F) (point c, Fig. 1), the structure reverts to the nine-atom lattice or alpha
iron. The change at point d on Fig. 1 (770 _C, or 1420 _F) merely denotes a change from nonmagnetic to magnetic iron
and does not represent a phase change. The entire field below 910 _C (1675 _F) is composed of alpha ferrite, which
continues on down to room temperature and below. The ferrite forming above the temperature range of austenite is
often referred to as delta ferrite; that forming below A3 as alpha ferrite, though both are structurally similar. In this

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Greek-letter sequence, austenite is gamma iron, and the interchangeability of these terms should not confuse the fact
that only two structurally distinct forms of iron exist. Figures 1 and 2 thus illustrate the allotropy of iron.

Fig. 1 Changes in pure iron as it cools from the molten state to room temperature.

Fig. 2 Arrangement of atoms in the two crystalline structures of pure iron. (a)
Body-centered cubic lattice. (b) Face-centered cubic lattice

Fig. 3 Iron-cementite phase diagram

A phase diagram is a graphical representation of the equilibrium temperature and composition limits of phase fields and
phase reactions in an alloy system. In the iron-cementite system, temperature is plotted vertically, and composition is
plotted horizontally. The iron-cementite diagram (Fig. 3), deals only with the constitution of the iron-iron carbide
system, i.e., what phases are present at each temperature and the composition limits of each phase. Any point on the
diagram, therefore, represents a definite composition and temperature, each value being found by projecting to the
proper reference axis. Although this diagram extends from a temperature of 1870 _C (3400 _F) down to room

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temperature, note that part of the diagram lies below 1040 _C (1900 _F). Steel heat treating practice rarely involves the
use of temperatures above 1040 _C (1900 _F). In metal systems, pressure is usually considered as constant.

Fig. 4 Effects of carbon content on the microstructures of plain-carbon steels.(a) Ferrite grains (white) and pearlite
(gray streaks) in a white matrix of a hypoeutectoid steel containing 0.4% C. (b) Microstructure (all pearlite grains) of a
eutectoid steel containing 0.77% C. (c) Microstructure of a eutectoid steel containing 0.77% C with all cementite in the
spheroidal form. (d) Microstructure of a hypereutectoid steel containing 1.0% C containing pearlite with excess
cementite bounding the grains.

The critical temperatures (A1, A6, and Acm) are ―arrests‖ in heating or cooling and have been symbolized with the
letter A, from the French word arretmeaning arrest or a delay point, in curves plotted to show heating or cooling of
samples. Such changes occur at transformation temperatures in the iron-cementite diagram if sufficient time is given
and cab be plotted for steels showing lags at transformation temperatures, as shown for iron in Fig. 4. However,
because heating rates in commercial practice usually exceed those in controlled laboratory experiments, changes on
heating usually occur at temperatures a few degrees above the transformation temperatures shown in Fig. 4 and are
known as Ac temperatures, such as Ac1 or Ac3. The ―c‖ is from the French word chauffage, meaning heating. Thus,
Ac1 is a few degrees above the ideal A1 temperature. Likewise, on slow cooling in commercial practice, transformation
changes occur at temperatures a few degrees below those in Fig. 4. These are known as Ar, or Ar3, the ―r‖ originating
from the French word refroidissement, meaning cooling. This difference between the heating and cooling varies with
the rate of heating or cooling. The faster the heating, the higher the Ac point; the faster the cooling, the lower the Ar
point. Also, the faster the heating and cooling rate, the greater the gap between the Ac and Ar points of the reversible
(equilibrium) point A. Going one step further, in cooling a piece of steel, it is of utmost importance to note that the
cooling rate may be so rapid (as in quenching steel in water) as to suppress the transformation for several hundreds of
degrees. This is due to the decrease in reaction rate with decrease in temperature. As discussed subsequently, time is an
important factor in transformation, especially in cooling.
The foregoing discussion has been confined principally to phases that are formed by various combinations of
composition and temperature; little reference has been made to the effects of time. In order to convey to the reader the
effects of time on transformation, the simplest approach is by means of a time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curve
for some constant iron-carbon composition.

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Fig. 5 Time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram for a eutectoid (0.77%) Carbon steel

Fig. 6 (a) Microstructure of quenched 0.95% carbon steel. Structure is martensitic. (b) Bainitic structure in a quenched
0.95% carbon steel.

A) The heat treatment process is done are as follows:

[1] Hardening process: in this process the specimen is heated in furnace upto the temperature 850̊ C after this they
were poured to different water container for rapid cooling to room temperature.
[2] Tempering process: in this process the hardened steel is heated to 350̊ C by this process macrostructure
modification is there by this hardness is improved and ductility is increased.
[3] Annealing process: full annealing is carried out in material by heating it to 870̊ C. and the tested surface is put
at this temperature for around 1 hour. The grain structures are now coarse pearlite
[4] Normalizing process: each sample is now placed in furnace and heated upto 850̊ C and the sample were cooled
for two hours for full transformation to austenite.

Fig.7: Stress versus strain curve for hardened and control specimen

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Vol. 6, Issue 7 , July 2019

Fig. 8: Stress versus strain curve for tempered and control specimen.

Fig. 9: Stress versus strain curve for annealed and control specimen

Fig. 10: Stress verses strain curve for normalized and controlled specimen

B) The results were: The heat treatment specimen is then subjected for tensile testing under universal testing machine.
And the results were shown in graphical form for hardened, tempered, annealed, and normalized specimens. The value
of ultimate tensile strength were in order of hardened was first one then tempered then normalized and the last one was
annealed. This was refined after primary phase when subsequent cooling is done. The higher the toughness of the
material the material has lower curve in stress curve in the plastic region, there is lower in strain hardening parameter
when the strain hardening parameter increases and the stress of the material also increases. And the conclusion after the
result obtained is that the mechanical properties depend largely upon the various forms of heat treatment process done
and also on the cooling rate. Hence depending upon the application they may be used for any design procedure but
suitable amount of process should be adopted for getting the properties like high ductility and minimum toughness
annealing would give the satisfactory results and the final result are shown the graph above.

IV. METHODOLOGY

S.K. AKAY, M. YAZICI, A. AVINC Proposed research paper on effect of heat treatment processes on mechanical
property of low grade steel. In this he proposed that new classes of the HSLA (high-strength low alloy steels) known as
DPS (dual phase steels) are developed to improve safety standards and fuel economy. Dual phase steel microstructures
can be produced by annealing steel in the region of equilibrium phase diagram. The steel microstructures have a ferrite
matrix along with particle of marten site. The physical properties are depending upon morphology of two phases. This
can be determined by changing the annealing temperature with time the annealing procedure quenching medium and
alloying element. In this the author has discussed about of heat treatment followed by quenching on the physical
properties of Fe 0.055% C steels. The experimental procedure was the specimen used in this is 2.5mm thick and the
chemical composition is specified firstly it was normalized at 910ᵒC hold for 45 minute and then air cooling is done.

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Table1: Chemical composition of specimen

The chemical composition of a studied Mn Si P Al Fe

material (wt. %). C
0.055 0.272 0.016 0.005 0.034 Balance

Fig. 11: Schematic heat treatment diagram: As received and intermediate quenching process α Ferrite, β: Cementite, γ: Austenite
The result of this experimental procedure shown by optical metallurgy is that the dual phase steel microstructures are
made of marten site (light area) distributed in ferrite in (dark area) as shown in figure 12. The ferrite phases do not have
any structure change after quenching from austenite + ferrite region. As the temperature increases the volume fraction
of marten site increases. The same result was seen by Bayrametal .And the final conclusion from this was when
intermediate annealing of low carbon steel is done then ferrite plus marten site structure grain structure is formed. As
the intermediate temperature time increases the volume fraction of marten site increases. When XRD analysis is done it
shows that as compared to α′ marten site there were large amount of γ- retained austenite forms in dual phase
microstructure.

Fig. 12: Optical micrograph of (a) DPS-780̊ C (b) DPS -825̊ C

B.S. Motagi, Ramesh Bhosle proposed a research paper on effect of heat treatment processes on mechanical property of
medium carbon steel .Steel specimen was allowed to heat treatment processes alternately as: [Link], [Link]
quenching, and [Link] at different temperature as 200̊C, 400 ̊C and 600 ̊C for around 1hr. Now steel specimens
were mechanically testing as tensile, ductility and hardness. So, all the variation in the mechanical properties as shown
in figure13. So, the mechanical testing was perform at room temperature and conclusion is that: on increasing the
tempering temperature, the hardness of the steel is decreasing shown in [Link] increasing the tempering temperature,
the ultimate tensile strength of both the grades i.e. with copper and without copper. But steel with copper has high
ultimate strength as compared to without copper. Also, on increasing the tempering temperature, the ductility of the
steel is increased. But steel with copper has low ductility as compared to without copper.

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Fig. 13: Hardness and Elongation measurement

[Link] AND FUTURE WORK

On increasing the tempering temperature, the hardness of the medium carbon steel with copper is high as compared to
the steel without copper. On increasing tempering temperature , the ductility of both the steel grade is increasing . The
steel with copper has low ductility as compared to steel without copper . The optimum heat treatment for the tested
managing stainless steel is at 1050 ͦ C for 1 h at 780 ͦ C for 8h at 535 ͦ C for 4 h. By this treatment, the yield stress of the
steel could reach1774 MPa and 1932 MPa. In the holding temperature range of 850 to 1150̊C, increasing holding time
could result in slight increase in prior austenite grain size until at1 050 ͦ C for 1 h. Whereas, abnormal grain growth was
seen at 1050 ͦ C for 3 h or longer holding time .The ductile brittle transition temperature measured in smaller size
specimen was 95ᵒC and it was lower than the 83ᵒC in the standard specimen.
From the above study it is concluded that according to need of Industry the engineer can design a proper route for
heating and cooling during manufacturing steel. The Iron Carbon Equilibrium diagram and TTT diagram are the basic
tools for designing the manufacturing process of steel and cast iron.

REFERENCES

1. H.E. Boyer, Chapter 1, Practical Heat Treating, 1st ed., American1Society for Metals, 1984, p 1–16
2. Metals & Alloys in the Unified Numbering System, 10th ed, SAE International and ASTM International, 2004
3. H.N. Oppenheimer, Heat Treatment of Carbon Steels, Course 42, Lesson 1, Practical Heat Treating, Materials Engineering Institute, ASM
International, 1995
4. H.E. Boyer, Chapter 2, Practical Heat Treating, 1st ed., American Society for Metals, 1984, p 17–33 5. John V.B (1980),
Introduction to material science, 2nd edition. Pp 321-324.
6. Alawode, A.J 2002, Changing in the mechanical properties and stresses due to cold work on the steel. University of iorin, Nigeria.
7. T. Senthilkumar and T. K. ajiboye. Heat treating on the mechanical properties of medium carbon steel and materials characterization. Vol.
11, no-2 pp.143-152, 2012 [Link] printed in USA.
8. ASTM international, ASTM hand book, volume 4, heat treating, American society for metals park, Ohio, 1991.
9. S. K. Akay, M. Yazici, A. Avinc. The heat treating on the mild steel to get desired properties. Proceedings of Romanian academy Series A,
Volume 10, Number 1/2009, pp. 000–000.
10. Bayram, [Link], [Link], Changing due to heat treating on microstructure and notches on the mechanical properties of dual-phase steels,
Material Characterization, 43, pp. 259-269, 1999.
11. B.S. Motagi, Ramesh Bhosle, Changing due to heat treating on microstructure and mechanical properties of mild carbon steel, journal of
engineering research and development ISSN: 2278-067, VOL. issue(July 2012), pp.07-13.
12. Eiichiwakai,shingomatsukawal, mechanical properties of F82H steel doped with boron and nitrogen, material transactions, vol.45,
no8(2004) pp.2641-2643.
13. EiichiWakail, Shingo Matsukawal, ShiroJitsukawa 45 (2004) 407-401.
14. Kai LIU, Yiyin SHAN, Zhiyong YAN, Jianxiong LIANG, LunLU and Ke YANG, Changing due to Heat Treating on Grain Size and
Mechanical Property of a F82H Stainless Steel, J. Material [Link].22 No.6, 2006. 15. Y. He, K. Yang. Material science technology,
2003, 19,117.
15. D.L. Corn and A.R. Wazan, iron steel institute, 1968, 6,600.
16. John V.B (1980), Introduction to material science, 2nd edition. Pp 321-324.
17. Alawode, A.J 2002, Changing in the mechanical properties and stresses due to cold work on the steel. University of iorin, Nigeria.
18. T. Senthilkumar and T. K. ajiboye. Heat treating on the mechanical properties of medium carbon steel and materials characterization. Vol.
11, no-2 pp.143-152, 2012 [Link] printed in USA.
19. ASTM international, ASTM hand book, volume 4, heat treating, American society for metals park, Ohio, 1991.
20. S. K. Akay, M. Yazici, A. Avinc. The heat treating on the mild steel to get desired properties. Proceedings of Romanian academy Series A,
Volume 10, Number 1/2009, pp. 000–000.

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21. Bayram, [Link], [Link], Changing due to heat treating on microstructure and notches on the mechanical properties of dual-phase steels,
Material Characterization, 43, pp. 259-269, 1999.
22. B.S. Motagi, Ramesh Bhosle, Changing due to heat treating on microstructure and mechanical properties of mild carbon steel, journal of
engineering research and development ISSN: 2278-067, VOL. issue(July 2012), pp.07-13.
23. Eiichiwakai,shingomatsukawal, mechanical properties of F82H steel doped with boron and nitrogen, material transactions, vol.45,
no8(2004) pp.2641-2643.

AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY

Sujit Kumar Garai received his AMIE that is equivalent to Bachelor of Engineering from
the INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, India {IEI(I)} in 1997 and M .Tech from the INDIAN
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING & SCIENCE (IIEST), Shibpur, Howrah, West Bengal,
India in
2014. In addition to that he participated a lots of short termtraining program at National Institute
of
Technical Teacher Training & Research (NITTTR,) Kolkata, West Bengal, India and National Institute of Rural
Development (NIRD), Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh India.

Presently working as Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Department at Technique Polytechnic Institute,

Panchrokhi, Sugandhya, Dist. Hooghly, West Bengal, India since August 2012. Earlier he worked as lecturer in
Mechanical Engineering Department at Kingston Polytechnic College, Barasat, Kolkata, West Bengal, India He
started his career in academic line as Part Time Lecturer at I.C.V. Polytechnic, Jhargram, West Bengal, India from
2001. Earlier to that have a working experience at Automobile Industry more than 6 Years.

He is in the academic arena for last 17 years having lots of publication at national and international Journals and
Conferences. His area of interest is Engineering Materials, Automobile Engineering, Fluid Mechanics & Fluid
Power, Machine Design and Industrial Engineering.

Sujay Biswas received Bachelor in Technology from Kalyani Government Engineering

College, West Bengal University of Technology, West Bengal, India in 2010.
At present, he is working as Departmental –In – Charge of Mechanical Engineering at
Technique Polytechnic Institute, Dist. Hooghly, West Bengal, India since 2015. Earlier he
worked as lecturer of Mechanical Engineering Department at same institute since 2011. He
has more than 6 years
experience in teaching profession.
He published papers in national and international level journal on Industrial Engineering. His area of interest
is Industrial Engineering, Theory of Machines, Thermal Engineering, and Engineering Drawing.

Sourav Panda received Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Elite Polytechnic

Institute,WBSCT&VE&SD , West Bengal,India in 2015 and Bachelor in Technology from
Asansol Engineering College,WBUT,WestBengal,India in 2018.
At present he is working as Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Technique Polytechnic
Institute, Dist. Hooghly, West Bengal, India. His area of
interest is Fluid Mechanics,ThermalEngineering,Manufacturing Process and Engineering Drawing.

Shayan Kumar received Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Technique Polytechnic

Institute,WBSCT&VE&SD , West Bengal,India in 2018.

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At present he is working as Technical Assistant in Mechanical Engineering at Technique
Polytechnic Institute, Dist. Hooghly, West Bengal, India. His area of interest is Strength of Material,
MachineDesign, Material Science and Engineering Drawing.

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