Cylinder Series Test

A series of round bars of various diameters are austenitized and quenched into oil or water. The bars are long sufficient hence the cooling of section at the middle of the length is not affected via the ends. After hardening every bar is cut in half and hardness measured on different points along a diameter. The graph in between distance and hardness from the centre is then prepared as in following figure. From such graph the diameter at that 50% of the structure is martensite is calculated. While such graph the diameter is plotted against bar diameter, this becomes possible to find out the bar diameter whether 50% martensite would form at the centre. This is termed as critical diameter for such quenching medium. Because the rate of cooling is less for oil quench after that for water quench, the critical diameter, of any type of steel will be less for oil quenching than for two water quenching. Quench severity is an index in which quantitatively explains the quenching situation. Such index indicated by H is explains as given ratio.

H = Heat transfer coefficient between steel and fluid/Thermal conductivity of steel

Figure: Variation of Hardness along with Depth in Water-quenched Cylindrical Bars of (a) Plain Carbon Steel, (b) 1% Cr-V Alloy Steel

Obviously, when H → ¥, it shows the severest condition of quench, sense that surface of steel instantly reaches the quenching medium temperature. The critical diameter for that, an unrealizable and ideal situation is termed as ideal critical diameter. For infinite H-value ideal critical diameter and the critical diameter will be similar. For other H values the critical diameter will be slighter. Given figure illustrates the relationship in between ideal diameters and critical diameters for various H-values. Table no.10 illustrates relative values of H such can be acquired in different quench media beneath various condition along with value of one for still water as base.

Figure: Relation between Critical Diameter, Ideal Critical Diameter and Severity of Quench

Table no: Relative Quench Severities