Heat Treatment and Hardness


Abstract

The mechanical properties of a metal can be altered by heat treatment and by plastic deformation. These techniques are used to control the properties of many manufactured components. Non-destructive test are important as they provide information on an actual component rather than on a similat piece of material. In this experiment, the Rockwell hardness of samples of low carbon steel will be measured and correlated with their heat treatment history. Samples will be quenched from red heat at three different rates (water, oil, and air quenches) and also will be annealed after these treatments and their hardness remeasured. Mechanical deformation causes Work Hardening (strain hardening) and samples deformed in the Instron testing apparatus will have their initial and final hardness measured and correlated with their strain history.