Effect of Quenching on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Steel for Hammer Mill

Abstract

This paper covers the effect of quenching on the mechanical properties of high carbon steel for hammer mill. The main objective of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties and microstructure of high carbon steel before and after heat treatment (i.e., quenching). In this study, the specimens were heated at different level temperature which are 750 °C,800 °C and 900 °C prior to quenching process in water with soaking time of 5 minutes. After the heat treatment of quenching process completed, Rockwell hardness test and tensile test were performed, and the results were collected for both untreated and heat-treated specimens. The fractured surfaces of the specimens were also examined by using metallurgical microscope. It was observed that different level of quenching temperature and untreated specimens gave different mechanical properties. The specimen undergone water quenching recorded the highest hardness and tensile strength as 67.9 HRA and 426.11 MPa, respectively. Besides, the microstructure obtained from untreated specimen provided a good combination of ferrite and pearlite, meanwhile in quenched specimens formation of martensite was observed.