Effect of Quenching Temperature on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Medium-Carbon Steel

• Published in: Metallography, microstructure, and analysis microstructure, and analysis, 2021-08, Vol.10 (4), p.485-495
• Main Authors: Elshaer, Ramadan N., Ibrahim, Khaled M., Ibrahim, Mervat M., Sobh, Arafa S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon steel; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical composition; Chemistry and Materials Science; Hardness; Impact resistance; Impact strength; Materials Science; Mechanical properties; Medium carbon steels; Metallic Materials; MF induction furnaces; Nanotechnology; Quenching; Service life; Structural Materials; Surfaces and Interfaces; Technical Article; Tensile properties; Tensile strength; Thin Films; Toughness; Wear rate; Wear resistance
• ISSN: 2192-9262; 2192-9270
• DOI: 10.1007/s13632-021-00757-3

The objective of this paper is to enhance service life of excavator bucket teeth for decreasing the idle time required to reinstate the teeth periodically during excavation process. To achieve this goal, medium-carbon steel was chosen with a chemical composition of 0.41C, 0.23Si, 0.75Mn, 1.0Cr, 0.23Mo (wt.%) to cast as Y-blocks with wall thickness of 30 mm using medium-frequency induction furnace. Optimum tensile strength (1492 MPa) and hardness (474 HV) were obtained for the sample quenched at 220 °C. Optimum impact toughness (17 J) was reported for the samples quenched at 270 °C compared to the as-cast sample (9 J) and quenched one at 220 °C (14 J). The lowest wear rate was shown for the quenched sample at 220 °C compared to the as-cast and quenched sample at 270 °C. The best combination of wear resistance, hardness, impact toughness and tensile properties was achieved for the quenched sample at 220 °C.