Heat treatment and mechanical

characterization of En8 steel

Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 2080, 050005 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5092933
Published Online: 08 March 2019

Gurudas Gopalkrishna, Ravindra Babu Gurumurthy, and Mahesh Davanageri

AIP Conference Proceedings 2080, 050005 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5092933 2080, 050005

© 2019 Author(s).
 Heat Treatment and Mechanical Characterization of En8
Steel
Gurudas Gopalkrishnaa), Ravindra Babu Gurumurthy, and Mahesh Davanageri

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management, Mangalore.

Karnataka, India.
a)
Corresponding Author: gurudasgpai@gmail.com

Abstract.In present study, the main emphasis has been to process the materials to obtain the balanced mechanical
properties for the given application. One of the processing routes to alter the properties is heat treatment. Nearly 80% of
the structural applications are related to the medium carbon unalloyed steel. The major requirement in the conventional
steel is to improve workability or ductility and refining the grain structure with sustained improvement in tensile
properties.In view of this, it is proposed to study the mechanical properties of EN8 unalloyed steel with and without heat
treatment. So as bought (hot rolled or cold rolled) materials are subjected to conventional hardening, normalizing, and
tempering treatments. These untreated &heat-treated components are subjected to hardness, tensile & metallography. A
comparative study of the result is performed to verify the properties.Microstructure was studied by using Optical
Microscope(OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The Main purpose of this study is to find out the effect of
different heat treatment processes on EN8 STEEL in different conditions and the various changes that occur in its
mechanical properties, Hardness and Microstructure. This gives a wide knowledge of the effect of the various heat
treatment process and the enhancement of various properties that can be achieved usingthese advanced
technologies.From the present study it will be possible to understand the various aspects related to microstructure,
mechanical properties of the steel and the changes that occur in the steel after subjecting to heat treatment process.

1. INTRODUCTION
Steel is an alloy of iron with varying percentage of carbon ranging from 0.15-1.5%. Heat treatment is a
combination of controlled heating and cooling of a metal or alloy in the solid state in a pre-determined way to
produce a desired microstructure and desired mechanical properties (hardness, ultimate tensile strength, yield
strength and elongation).
The Present work deals with the influence of heat treatment on various mechanical properties of EN8 steel with
the objective of improving its mechanical properties.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
The purpose of literature review is to provide background information on the issues to be considered in this
investigation and to emphasize the relevance of the present study. Ndaliman [1] carried out austenizing of samples
of medium carbon steels, followed by normalising, quenching (both in oil and water) and tempering. It was observed
that tensile strength and hardness are higher for the heat-treated specimens while impact strength reduced after heat
treatment. Moleejane [2] compared the properties of as bought samples of EN 8 with three different samples which
were austenized at different temperatures for different durations and cooled in furnace to different temperatures
followed by quenching (both in oil and water). The quenched samples had more strength and hardness compared to
the as bought samples due to the reduction in grain size and due to the presence of harder phases (martensite and

Emerging Trends in Mechanical Engineering 2018

AIP Conf. Proc. 2080, 050005-1–050005-11; https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5092933
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-1810-3/$30.00

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bainite). On the other hand, samples with increase in austenising temperature, soaking time and slow cooling rate
induced a marked decrease in strength and hardness compared to as bought sample mainly due to grain coarsening.
Çalik [3] carried out austenizing of AISI 1040 samples at higher temperatures for longer duration followed by
furnace cooling, air cooling and water quenching. It was found that martensite was formed at higher cooling rates
and the increase in martensite content increases hardness. Hassan et al. [4] carried out austenizing of medium carbon
steel followed by quenching in different media (SAE 40 oil, neem oil and water). Hardness was found to increase in
the order of quenching in SAE 40 oil, neem oil and water while impact strength decreased in the same order.
Narkhede et al. [5] studied the effect of inter critical annealing on the microstructure and wear behaviour of EN 8
steel. Three of the samples were austenized followed by furnace cooling (annealing), air cooling (normalising) and
oil quenching (hardening). Three more samples were subjected to inter critical annealing in different ways. The
annealed structure was found to consist of relatively coarse grains of ferrite and pearlite, while the normalized
structure was found to consist of finer grains of ferrite and pearlite.The hardened structure consisted of martensite
and the inter critically annealed samples were found to have varying sizes of ferrite grains and varying amounts of
martensite. The annealed sample showed highest wear rate, followed by the normalised one, the intercritically
annealed ones and finally the hardened one which had the least wear rate. Lower the wear rate, higher is the
hardness and viceversa. The wear rate increased with theapplied load.
Sakthivel et al. [6] evaluated EN8 steel in different quenching media. Tests were conducted on the different sets
of samples - as received, air quenched, oil quenched (both in open furnace and in seal quenched furnace) and water
quenched. The hardness test showed that the water quenched sample had the maximum hardness followed by closed
furnace quenching, open furnace oil quenching, air quenching and as bought samples in that order. Wear resistance
also varied in the same order.
Cullen Moleejane et al. [7] studied the microstructural features and mechanical behaviour of EN8 Steel after
subsequent heat treatment. The samples were subjected to different austenizing temperatures for different time
intervals and then furnace cooled at different temperatures. Grains grew with increase in temperature and soaking
time. However, there was a reduction in grain size in case of higher cooling rates thereby decreasing elongation but
increasing the hardness due to the formation of bainite and martensite.

3. OBJECTIVES
The Major objectives of the research work are:
1. To determine various mechanical properties of EN8 steel in the As-cast condition.
2. To subject the steel to suitable heat treatment processes such as Conventional Hardening,Normalizing
andTempering Treatments and to determine the various mechanical properties in the heat-treated condition.
3. To carry out Hardness Test, Tensile Test, on As-bought and Heat-Treated conditions.
4. To To perform Micro constituent phase identification using SEM & OEM and study the Microstructure on
HeatTreated and As-bought Steels to detect the type of Phases and its Grain Size.
5. To compare the above-mentioned Mechanical Characteristics in different conditions.

4. METHODOLOGY
1. Selection of Material
2. Procurement of EN8 Steel Samples from the vendor.
3. Preparation of Standard Test Specimens as per the specifications using CNC Turning Center and Vertical
Milling Center.
4. Testing of the steel specimens to various tests such as Hardness Test (Vickers), Tensile Test (Tensometer),
before subjecting them to heat treatment by suitable test equipment and noting down the respective values.
5. Subjecting the steel specimens to various heat treatment processes:
6. Hardening: Heating the steel Isothermally at 9000C for 2 hours and Quenched in Water.
7. Normalizing: Heating the steel Isothermally at 9000C for 2 hours and Air cooled.
8. Tempering: Heating the steel Isothermally at 2500C and 6500C for 2 hours and Aircooled.
9. Testing the Heat-Treated Specimens again to the various tests by suitable test equipment and noting down
the respective values.
10. Metallography: The microstructures of steel in different conditions are carefully characterized by Using
Trinocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM)

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 11. Comparing the values obtained from the various tests before and after the heat treatment process

4.1 Selection of Material

The EN8 grade Steel is being chosen for investigation. It is one of the plain carbon steel having 0.40% carbon in
its composition, so it is called medium carbon steel. The standard chemical composition of EN8 steel is given in the
table below:
Table1. Standard Chemical Composition of EN8 Steel
C Mn Si P S Cr Fe
0.40 0.77 0.20 0.03 0.02 0.04 Balance

The sample that we procured from the vendor was of Mild steel EN8 of the following sizes:
 25mm diameter Rod – 300mm length
 10mm diameter Rod – 300mm length
 8mm diameter Rod – 900mm length

Figure 1. Specimens

4.2 PREPARATION OF STANDARD TEST SPECIMEN

The specimens of following dimensions, as shown in Fig.2, were then prepared for test using a standard format
of ASTM for heat treatment.

Fig. 2 Test specimen for EN8 steel

Samples were prepared as per ASTM standards in the machine shop.

4.3 Heat Treatment Processes

After the preparation of specimen, the specimens were heated in muffle furnace at a pre-determined temperature
of 900℃ and were held at that temperature for pre-determined time of 120minutes and then the one set of specimens
were quenched into water and other set of specimens were Air Cooled. After quenching, the water quenched
specimens were again heated for tempering, in this they were tempered at different temperature (250℃,650℃,). At

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each temperature one set of specimens were heated and each set was held for a tempering time i.e. 180minutes each
and then Air Cooled. Further, Air Cooled Specimens were again Heated in the Muffle Furnace at a temperature of
900℃ and were held at that temperature for 120 minutes and then the specimens were quenched into water. After
quenching, the water quenched specimens were again heated for tempering, in this they were tempered at different
temperature (250℃,650℃,). At each temperature one set of specimens were heated and each set was held for a
tempering time i.e. 180minutes each and then Air Cooled.

Fig. 3 CNC Turning Centre

Fig. 4 Muffle Furnace

4.4 Mechanical Testing

After the heat treatment operations, the heat-treated specimens were subjected to hardness and tensile test to
determine the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, elongation and hardness properties. Hardness test was
conducted on Vickers hardness testing machine, while the tensile test was conducted on Tensometer,andelectronic
tensile testing machine.

4.5 Metallography
After successful heat treatment operations, the heat-treated specimens were taken for the Microstructure study,
consisting of the microscopic study of the surface characteristics of the metal or alloy. After preparation of
metallography specimen, both untreated and treated specimens were taken for Microstructure determination using
OEM and SEM.

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 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The various mechanical properties i.e. hardness, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation were
measured as a function of temperature. For every measurement, a specimen has been used which is asbought and
heat treated at different conditions.The results obtained from testing were described below:

5.1 Hardness testing results

The hardness property of heat-treated specimens is measured using Vickers Micro hardness tester. The results
obtained from testing of specimens were shown in Fig.5 and Fig.6 respectively.

VICKERS HARDNESS No.
VICKER'S HARDNESS NUMBER

500 330.17
248.23 189.67 177.27

0
HV

VICKERS HARDNESS No. HV
(AVG)

SPECIMEN CONDITION

Fig. 5 Effect of heat treatment on hardness of specimens for different temperature

VICKERS HARDNESS No.

332.33
VICKER'S HARDNESS NUMBER

400
248.23 252.27
187.67 182.27
200

0
HV

VICKERS HARDNESS No.

HV (AVG)

SPECIMEN CONDITION

Fig.6 Effect of heat treatment on hardness of specimens for different conditions

In relation with Fig.5 and Fig.6, By comparing the Hardness values obtained we can analyse that the Hardness of
Conventional Hardened Specimen is very high due to the Martensitic Structure.
we can analyse that the Hardness of as bought Specimen and Normalised Specimen is nearly matching and thus As
bought Steel seems to be Normalised one or Hot Rolled one.

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we can analyze that the Hardness of the of Normalised condition is due to the fine dispersion of Ferrite and
Cementite in Pearlite i.e.as the degree of dispersion increases, Hardness increases.

5.2 Ultimate tensile strength testing results

The ultimate tensile strength property of heat-treated specimens is measured as function of temperature using
Tensometer. The results obtained from testing of specimens are shown in Fig.7 and Fig.8 respectively.

COMPARISION OF 
ULTIMATE TENSILE STRENGTH(UTS)
1435.7
UTS  N/Sq.mm

1500
764 613.3
1000 434.8
500
0 AVG UTS N/Sq.mm

SPECIMEN CONDITION

Fig. 7 Effect of heat treatment on ultimate tensile strength for different conditions

COMPARISION OF 
ULTIMATE TENSILE STRENGTH(UTS)

1473.2
1600
UTS  N/Sq.mm

1400
1200
1000 764
578.2 619.3
800 419.3
600
400
200 AVG UTS N/Sq.mm
0

SPECIMEN CONDITION

Fig. 8 Effect of heat treatment on ultimate tensile strength for different conditions

From the Fig.7 and Fig.8 It can be analysed that the Ultimate Tensile Strength of the Normalised Conventional
Hardened specimen is very high compared to other conditions.
By comparing the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) values obtained we can analyse that the Ultimate Tensile
Strength (UTS) of Normalised Conventional Hardened Specimen is very high compared to other ,due to the
formation of Martensitic Structure.

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 In conventional Hardened Specimen, The Martensitic Phase i.e., Hardened Structure shows excellent hardness
due to the shear formation of Austenite(gamma) into Body Centered Tetragonal (BCT) structure. This is Non-
Equilibrium Phase with height of the cell/Base plane length varies as per the carbon content of Austenitic phase. The
Distortion of the cells formed by severe quenching is the reason to increase in hardness of the phase.

5.3 Elongation testing results

The elongation property of tempered specimens is measured as function of temperature and time using universal
testing machine. The results obtained from testing of specimens are shown in Fig.9 and Fig.10.

COMPARISION OF 
% PEAK ELONGATION

22.85
% PEAK ELONGATION

25
16.01
20 12.46 13.64
15
10
5 % PEAK ELONGATION
0
(AVG)

SPECIMEN CONDITION

Fig. 9 Effect of heat treatment on hardness of specimens for different temperature

COMPARISION OF 
% PEAK ELONGATION

17.99
% PEAK ELONGATION

20 16.01 17.19 14.67 16.03

15
10
5
% PEAK ELONGATION (AVG)
0

SPECIMEN CONDITION

Fig. 10 Effect of heat treatment on peak elongation of specimens for different temperature

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 The above-mentioned figures, i.e. Fig.9 and Fig.10, were used for comparing the Peak Elongation values and
analysed to observe that the Peak Elongation of Hardened Specimen is very less compared to others. We see that the
Peak Elongation of As-bought Specimen and Normalised Specimen is nearly matching. We also observe that the
Peak Elongation of Annealed Specimen is very high compared to others. Further, It can be seen that the percentage
Peak Elongation of the Hardened Tempered specimen is much greater compared to other conditions.

5.4 Metallography
Optical microscopic (OM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results

The images below, show the Microstructure of the EN8 steel specimen in different conditions obtained in an
Optical Microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope.

Figure 11. As bought condition

ANALYSIS (As bought condition): With reference to Fig. 11, Microstructure Analysis shows Coarser Phase in As-
bought condition. It can also be seen that asbought structure are Pearlitic but there is large interlamellar space
between two consecutive cementite in pearlite i.e. the structure is Coarser.

ANALYSIS (Conventional hardened condition): With reference to Fig. 12., Microstructure indicates the formation
of band like martensite structure on Conventional hardened specimen. The Martensitic Structure shows Lath type
structure, which is the expected pattern in Hypo-eutectoid steel. It can be analysed that in Conventional Hardened
Structure i.e., Martensitic Phase there is formation of Austennite into Body Centered Tetragonal (BCT). In
Conventional Hardened Structure i.e., Martensitic Phase the hardness is excellent due to the formation of Austenite
into Body Centered Tetragonal (BCT). Due to the formation of martensitic structure which is brittle, the
Conventional Hardened specimen shows brittle nature.

ANALYSIS (Normalized Condition): With reference to Fig. 13., Microstructure Analysis shows Finer Phase in
Normalised conditions. In Normalised Specimen there is a fine dispersion of ferrite and Cementite in pearlite. The
Pearlitic colony is Finer in Normalised condition. It can also be seen that Normalised structure are Pearlitic but there
is large interlamellar space between two consecutive cementite in pearlite i.e. the structure is Coarser. It can be
analysed that there is fine dispersion of ferrite and Cementite in pearlite. As the degree of Dispersion increases,
Hardness increases.

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 Figure 12. Conventional hardened condition

Figure 13. Normalised condition

ANALYSIS (Normalized Hardened Condition): With reference to Fig. 13., Normalised and conventionally hardened
specimen shows brittle nature due to the formation of brittle, fine martensitic structure. Microstructure indicates the
formation of band like martensite structure on hardened specimen. The Martensitic Structure shows Lath type
structure, which is the expected pattern in Hypo-eutectoid steel. It can be analyzed that in Conventional Hardened
Structure i.e., Martensitic Phase there is formation of Austennite into Body Centered Tetragonal (BCT). In
Conventional Hardened Structure i.e., Martensitic Phase the hardness is excellent due to the formation of Austenite
into Body Centered Tetragonal (BCT). Due to the formation of martensitic structure which is brittle, the
Conventional Hardened specimen shows brittle nature.

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 Figure 14. Normalised Hardened condition

6. CONCLUSIONS

The results show that the ultimate tensile strength and to some extent the yield strength decrease, whereas the
elongation increases with increase in tempering temperature and tempering time. For a given tempering time, the
ultimate tensile strength and the yield strength decrease, whereas the elongation and hence the ductility i.e.
elongation increases by increasing the tempering temperature.
The hardness of the conventional hardened specimen is very high compared to other heat treatment conditions.
Conventional hardened had the highest hardness due to the formation of martensite structure.
The strength(UTS) is excellent in Hardened condition.he ductility of the As-bought condition is higher compared
to other.Conventionally, hardened specimen shows brittle nature due to the formation of brittle martensitic
structure.It shows the Hardened specimen is purely Brittle in nature.Microstructure shows Coarser Phase in As-
bought, Finer in Normalised conditions.Microstructure indicates the formation of band like martensite structure on
Conventionally hardened specimen.The Martensitic Structure shows Lath type structure, which is the expected
pattern in Hypo-eutectoid steel.However, if strength is desired along with hardness of the carbon steel than we
should opt for. It can be clearly seen comparing all the heat treatment processes, optimum Combination of UTS,
Yield Strength, % Elongation as well as hardness can be Obtained through Normalising only.

REFERENCES
1. Ndaliman, Mohammed Baba. “An Assessment of Mechanical Properties of Medium Carbon Steel under
Different Quenching Media.” AU J.T. 10(2): 100-104, (2007).
2. Cullen Mayuni Moleejane (2009), “An experimental investigation of the effect of microstructural features on
mechanical experimental properties of EN8 steel”, (M. Tech), Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
3. Adnan Çalik, “Effect of cooling rate on hardness and microstructure of AISI 1020, AISI 1040 and AISI 1060
Steels”, International Journal of Physical Sciences, 4 (9), 2009, 514518.
4. S.B. Hassan, J.B. Agboola, V.S. Aigbodion and E.J. Williams, “Hardening Characteristics of Plain Carbon
Steel and Ductile Cast Iron Using Neem Oil as Quenchant”, Journal of Minerals & Materials Characterization
& Engineering, 10(2),2011,161-172.

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5. S. Narkhede, P. Bhoyar, S. Dhone, R.K. Khatirkar and S.G. Sapate, “Effect of Inter Critical Annealing on
Microstructure and Wear Behaviour of EN 8 Steel”, International Journal on Theoretical and Applied Research
in Mechanical Engineering, 1(1), 2012, 113-116.
6. M. Sakthivel, A.G. Ganeshkumar, P.Raja and M. Muthuvel., “Evaluation of EN8 Steel in Different Quenching
Medium”, International Journal of Engineering Sciences Research, 04, 2013, 952-956.
7. Cullen M.. Moleejane, Kazeem O. Sanusi, Olukayode L. Ayodele and Graeme J. Oliver, (2014)
Microstructural Features and Mechanical Behaviour of Carbon Steel (EN8 Steel) after Subsequent Heat
Treatment, In: Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering and Computer Science, San Fransisco,
October 2014, San Fransisco: Newswood Limited, 1034-1039.

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