Steel hardening is a process of heat treatment of metal, consisting of heating, holding and cooling. Heat treatment is designed to improve the mechanical characteristics of steel, metals and alloys.
The term “hardened steel” is often used to refer to medium-carbon or high-carbon steel that has undergone heat treatment followed by quenching and tempering. Quenching leads to the formation of metastable martensite, which decreases to the required amount during tempering.
How does the steel hardening process work?
The hardening process consists of controlled heating to a critical temperature determined by the type of steel (760-1300 C), followed by controlled cooling. Depending on the type of material, the corresponding cooling rate varies from very fast (water hardening) to very slow (air cooling).
What is the purpose of steel hardening?
The main purpose of hardening of machine parts made of pearlitic structural steels is to develop high yield strength with good ductility and ductility to allow higher working stresses.
What is the purpose of steel hardening?
Hardened steel is resistant to wear, rough handling, high pressure and impact. It is used for power shovels, steel balls, nozzles, surgical tools, crushers, and rock slabs.