HEAT TREATMENT

The Fe-C diagram in Fig. 1 is of experimental origin.

The knowledge of the thermodynamic principles and modern
thermodynamic data now permits very accurate calculations of
this diagram.

If alloying elements are added to the iron-carbon alloy (steel),

the position of the A1, A3, and Acm boundaries and the
eutectoid composition are changed
(1) all important alloying elements decrease the eutectoid
carbon content, (2) the austenite-stabilizing elements
manganese and nickel decrease A1
(3) the ferrite-stabilizing elements chromium, silicon,
molybdenum, and tungsten increase A1.
Table 1 Important metallurgical phases and microconstituents

Phase
(microc Crystal structure of
Characteristics
onstitu phases
ent)

Ferrite (α-iron) bcc Relatively soft low-temperature phase; stable equilibrium phase

δ-ferrite (δ-
bcc Isomorphous with α-iron; high-temperature phase; stable equilibrium phase
iron)

Austenite (γ-
fcc Relatively soft medium-temperature phase; stable equilibrium phase
iron)

Cementite
Complex orthorhombic Hard metastable phase
(Fe3C)

Graphite Hexagonal Stable equilibrium phase

Pearlite Metastable microconstituent; lamellar mixture of ferrite and cementite

Martensite
bct (supersaturated solution Hard metastable phase; lath morphology when <0.6 wt% C; plate morphology when >1.0 wt% C and mixture of those in
of carbon in ferrite) between

Bainite ...
Hard metastable microconstituent; nonlamellar mixture of ferrite and cementite on an extremely fine scale; upper bainite
formed at higher temperatures has a feathery appearance; lower bainite formed at lower temperatures has an
acicular appearance. The hardness of bainite increases with decreasing temperature of formation.
Accm. In hypereutectoid steel, the temperature at which the solution of cementite in austenite is
completed during heating.

Ac1. The temperature at which austenite begins to form during heating, with the c being derived from
the French chauffant.

Ac3. The temperature at which transformation of ferrite to austenite is completed during heating.

Aecm, Ae1, Ae3. The temperatures of phase changes at equilibrium.

Arcm. In hypereutectoid steel, the temperature at which precipitation of cementite starts during
cooling, with the r being derived from the French refroidissant.

Ar1. The temperature at which transformation of austenite to ferrite or to ferrite plus cementite is
completed during cooling.

Ar3. The temperature at which austenite begins to transform to ferrite during cooling.

Ar4. The temperature at which delta ferrite transforms to austenite during cooling.

(or Ar''). The temperature at which transformation of austenite to martensite starts during
Ms
cooling.

Mf. The temperature at which martensite formation finishes during cooling.

One can conveniently describe what is happening during
transformation with transformation diagrams. Four different
types of such diagrams can be distinguished. These include:
· Isothermal transformation diagrams describing the
formation of austenite, which will be referred to as
IT diagrams
· Isothermal transformation (IT) diagrams, also referred to
as time-temperature-transformation (TTT)
diagrams, describing the decomposition of austenite
· Continuous heating transformation (CHT) diagrams
· Continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams
• ITh Diagrams (Formation of Austenite).
During the formation of austenite from an
original microstructure of ferrite and pearlite or
tempered martensite, the volume (and hence the
length) decreases with the formation of the
dense austenite phase (see Fig. 3). From the
elongation curves, the start and finish times for
austenite formation, usually defined as 1% and
99% transformation, respectively, can be
derived.
Fig. 3 The procedure for determining isothermal heating (ITh)
diagrams. Line 1: Temperature versus time. Line 2: Elongation versus
time. S represents the start and F the finish of the transformation of the
original microstructure to austenite transformation, respectively.
(Fig. 4). Below Ac1 no austenite can form, and between Ac1 and Ac3
the end product is a mixture of ferrite and austenite .
 Volume changes due to different transformations

Transformation Volume change, %(a)

Spheroidized pearlite-
4.64-2.21 × (%C)
austenite

Austenite-martensite 4.64-0.53 × (%C)

Austenite-lower bainite 4.64-1.43 × (%C)

Austenite-upper bainite 4.64-2.21 × (%C)

 Hardenability Concepts
• The goal of heat treatment of
steel is very often to attain a
satisfactory hardness. The
important microstructural
phase is then normally
martensite
• The hardness of martensite is
primarily dependent on its
carbon content as is shown in
Fig
• In practical heat treatment, it
is important to achieve full
hardness to a certain
minimum depth after cooling,
that is, to obtain a fully
martensitic microstructure to a
certain minimum depth, which
also represents a critical
cooling rate.
• CCT diagrams constructed
according to Atkins or
Thelning can serve this
purpose if one knows the
cooling rate at the minimum
depth
• Successful hardening usually means achieving the
required microstructure, hardness, strength, or
toughness while minimizing residual stress, distortion,
and the possibility of cracking.
• The selection of a quenchant medium depends on the
hardenability of the particular alloy, the section thickness
and shape involved, and the cooling rates needed to
achieve the desired microstructure. The most common
quenchant media are either liquids or gases.
The liquid quenchants commonly used include:
• · Oil that may contain a variety of additives
• · Water
• · Aqueous polymer solutions
• · Water that may contain salt or caustic additives
• The most common gaseous quenchants are inert gases
including helium, argon, and nitrogen. These quenchants
are sometimes used after austenitizing in a vacuum.
 Jominy End-Quench Test.

• The most commonly used experimental method for

hardenability is the well-known Jominy test
• For this test a round bar specimen that is 100 mm (4 in.)
in length and 25 mm (1 in.) in diameter is used. The
specimen is heated to the austenitizing temperature of
the steel with a holding time of 20 min. One end face of
the specimen is quenched by spraying it with a jet of
water. This causes the rate of cooling to decrease
progressively from the quenched end along the length of
the bar.
• The hardness values are plotted on a diagram at
specified intervals from the quenched end.
Fig. Calculated hardness (dashed line) and reported hardness (solid
line) from a Jominy test of AISI 4130 steel.
 Principles of Tempering of Steels
• Martensite is a very hard phase in steel. It owe its high
hardness to a strong super saturation of carbon in the iron
lattice and to a high density of crystal defects, especially
dislocations, and high- and low-angle boundaries. However,
except at low carbon contents, martensitic steels have
insufficient toughness for many applications.
• Tempering of martensitic steels, by heating for a certain time
at temperatures below the A1, is therefore introduced to
exchange some of the strength for greater ductility through
reduction of the carbon super saturation initially present and
replacing it with more stable structures. Additionally, the
retained austenite associated with martensite in steels
containing more than about 0.7 wt% C can be decomposed
during the tempering process. In carbon steels containing
small percentages of the common alloying elements, one
distinguishes the following stages during tempering
• In steels alloyed with chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, or
tungsten, formation of alloy carbides occurs in the temperature
range 500 to 700 °C During stage 1, the hardness increases slightly
while during stage 2, 3, and 4 the hardness decreases.
 TEMPERING OF STEEL
• is a process in which previously hardened or normalized steel is
usually heated to a temperature below the lower critical temperature
and cooled at a suitable rate, primarily to increase ductility and
toughness, but also to increase the grain size of the matrix. Steels
are tempered by reheating after hardening to obtain specific values
of mechanical properties and also to relieve quenching stresses and
to ensure dimensional stability.
• Tempering usually follows quenching from above the upper critical
temperature; however, tempering is also used to relieve the stresses
and reduce the hardness developed during welding and to relieve
stresses induced by forming and
• machining.
• Principal Variables
• Variables associated with tempering that affect the microstructure
and the mechanical properties of a tempered steel include:
• · Tempering temperature
• · Time at temperature
• · Cooling rate from the tempering temperature
• · Composition of the steel, including carbon content, alloy content,
and residual elements
Fig. Tempering curves for some current steels. The steel 42CrMo4
is equivalent to AISI 4142 and C45 to AISI 1045.
 Temper embrittlement

• The toughness of a steel increases with decreasing hardness.

However, when certain impurities such as arsenic, phosphorus,
antimony, and tin are present, a toughness minimum "temper
embrittlement" may occur in the temperature range 350 to 600
°C due to segregation of impurities to grain boundaries.
• Temper embrittlement is a problem when parts are exposed to
temperatures in the critical range for rather long times and is a
concern for parts exposed to these temperatures while in
service or when heat treating very massive parts which require
long times to heat and cool.
• It is not a concern, even for susceptible alloys, if small parts
are exposed to these temperatures for an hour or so during
heat treatment, then used at ambient temperatures. Nuts and
bolts, for example, made of various types of steels, are
tempered in this temperature range with no problems as long
as they are used at lower temperatures. The time for
embrittlement to occur at differing tempering temperatures
shows a C-shaped curve behavior
• . Temper embrittlement can be removed by reheating the steel
above 600 °C (1110 °F) followed by rapid cooling, for example,
water quenching.
 Martensite embrittlement
• Another type of embrittlement that affects high-strength alloy
steels is tempered martensite embrittlement (also known as 350
°C, or 500 °F, embrittlement), which occurs upon tempering in
the range of 205 to 370 °C (400 to 700 °F). It differs from temper
embrittlement in the strength of the material and the
temperature exposure range. In temper embrittlement, the steel
is usually tempered at a relatively high temperature, producing
lower strength and hardness, and embrittlement occurs upon
slow cooling after tempering and during service at
temperatures within the embrittlement range. In tempered
martensite embrittlement, the steel is tempered within the
embrittlement range, and service exposure is usually at room
• temperature. Therefore, temper embrittlement is often called
two-step temper embrittlement, while tempered martensite
embrittlement is often called one-step temper embrittlement
 MARTEMPERING
• is a term used to describe an interrupted quench from the
austenitizing temperature of certain alloy, cast, tool, and stainless
steels. The purpose is to delay the cooling just above the martensitic
transformation for a length of time to equalize the temperature
throughout the piece. This will minimize the distortion, cracking, and
residual stress. The term martempering is somewhat misleading and
is better described as marquenching. The microstructure after
martempering is essentially primary martensitic that is untempered
and brittle.
• Figure 1(a and b) shows the significant difference between
conventional quenching and martempering. Martempering of steel
(and of cast iron) consists of:
• · Quenching from the austenitizing temperature into a hot fluid
medium (hot oil, molten salt, molten metal, or a fluidized particle
bed) at a temperature usually above the martensite range (Ms point)
• · Holding in the quenching medium until the temperature throughout
the steel is substantially uniform
• · Cooling (usually in air) at a moderate rate to prevent large
differences in temperature between the outside and the
• center of the section
Time temperature transformation diagrams with superimposed cooling
curves showing quenching and tempering.
(a) Conventional process. (b) Martempering. (c) Modified martempering

The advantage of martempering lies in the reduced thermal gradient

between surface and center as the part is quenched to
the isothermal temperature and then is air cooled to room temperature.
Thermal Stresses during and Residual Stresses after
Heat Treatment

Heat treatment of steel, is usually accompanied by the

large residual stresses, that is, stresses that exist
without any external load on the part considered.
Causes for such stresses include:
1. Thermal expansion or contraction of a homogeneous
material in a temperature gradient field
2. Different thermal expansion coefficients of the various
phases in a multiphase material
3. Density changes due to phase transformations in the
metal
4. Growth stresses of reaction products formed on the
surface or as precipitates, for example, external and
internal oxidation
 Cracking and Distortion due to Hardening.
Hardening is usually accompanied by distortion of a
workpiece. The degree of distortion depends on the
magnitude of the residual stresses.
Hardening procedures that minimize transient and residual
stresses are beneficial as well as the use of
fixtures (press hardening). Distortion can also occur during
tempering or annealing due to release of residual stresses or
phase transformations during tempering as described
previously
There is a risk for cracking of a workpiece if large tensile
stresses, transient or residual, are combined with the
presence of a brittle microstructure (particularly martensite).
Thermal stresses during cooling generally increase with the
size of a workpiece.
Formation of residual stress on cooling considering thermal expansion and the austenite to
martensite transformation. The dashed line is the yield stress, σs, at the surface.
 HARDENABILITY STEELS

H-steels, offer a wide range of mechanical properties that

depend on the development of tempered martensite after
quenching and tempering. Typical room-temperature
properties of quenched and tempered steels can vary as
follows:
• · Hardness values of 130 to 700 HV (30 kgf load)
• · Tensile strengths of 400 to 2000 MPa (58 to 290 ksi)
• · Yield strengths of 300 to 1800 MPa (43 to 261 ksi)
• · Elongation of 8 to 28% in 50 mm (2 in.)
Carbon, % Rockwell C hardness (HRC) with martensite contents of:

50% 80% 90% 95% 99.9%

0.18 31 35 37.5 39 43

0.23 34 37.5 40.5 42 46

0.28 36.5 40.5 43 44.5 49

0.33 39 43.5 46.5 48.5 52

0.38 42 46 49 51 54

0.43 44 48 51 53.5 57

0.48 46.5 52 54 57 60
 Relationship between IT, CCT, and Jominy Curves

Relationship of CCT
(heavy lines) and IT
(light lines) diagrams of
eutectoid steel. Four
cooling rates from
different positions on a
Jominy end-quench
specimen are
superimposed on the
CCT diagram
Comparison of IT
diagram for steel
with German
designation 42
CrMo 4 (0.38% C,
0.99% Cr, and
0.16% Mo)
determined by
dilatometry
 Stress-Relief Heat Treating of Steel

• STRESS-RELIEF HEAT TREATING is used to

relieve stresses that remain locked in a structure as a
consequence of a manufacturing sequence.
This definition separates stress-relief heat treating from
post weld heat treating in that the goal of post weld heat
treating is to provide, in addition to the relief of residual
stresses, some preferred metallurgical structure or
properties For example, most ferritic weldments are
given postweld heat treatment to improve the fracture
toughness of the heat-affected zones (HAZ). Moreover,
austenitic and nonferrous alloys are commonly postweld
heat treated to improve resistance to environmental
damage.
• Stress-relief heat treating is the uniform heating of a
structure, or portion, to a suitable temperature below the
transformation range (Ac1 for ferritic steels), holding at
this temperature for a predetermined period of time,
followed by uniform cooling. Care must be taken to
ensure uniform cooling, particularly when a component is
composed of variable section sizes. If the rate of cooling
is not constant and uniform, new residual stresses can
result that are equal to or greater than those that the
heat-treating process was intended to relieve.
• Stress-relief heat treating can reduce distortion and high
stresses from welding that can affect service
performance. The presence of residual stresses can lead
to stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) near welds and in
regions of a component that has been cold strained
during processing.
• Residual stresses in a ferritic steel cause significant
reduction in resistance to brittle fracture
 Sources of Residual Stress
• Bending a bar during fabrication at a temperature where recovery
cannot occur (cold forming, for example) will result in one surface
location containing residual tensile stresses, whereas a location
180° away will contain residual compressive
• Quenching of thick sections results in high residual compressive
stresses on the surface of the material. These high compressive
stresses are balanced by residual tensile stresses in the internal
areas of the section
• Grinding is another source of residual stresses; these can be
compressive or tensile in nature, depending on the grinding
operation. Although these stresses tend to be shallow in depth, they
can cause warping of thin parts
• Welding. The cause of residual stresses that has received the most
attention in the open literature is welding. The residual stresses
associated with the steep thermal gradient of welding can occur on a
macroscale over relatively long distances (reaction stresses) or can
be highly localized (microscale) (Fig.). Welding usually results in
localized residual stresses that approach levels equal to or greater
than the yield strength of the material at room temperature.
 Examples of the causes of residual stresses:
(a) Thermal distortion in a structure due to heating by solar radiation.
(b) Residual stresses due to welding. (c) Residual stresses due to grinding.
Relationship between time and temperature in the relief of
residual stresses in steel.
• Typical stress-relief temperatures for low-alloy
• ferritic steels are between 595 and 675 °C (1100 and 1250 °F).
• For high-alloy steels, these temperatures may range from 900 to
1065 °C (1650 to 1950 °F).
• For high-alloy steels, such as the austenitic stainless steels,
stress relieving is sometimes done at temperatures as low as
400 °C (750 °F). However, at these temperatures, only modest
decreases in residual stress are achieved.
• Residual stresses can be significantly reduced by stress-relief
heat treating those austenitic materials in the temperature range
from 480 to 925 °C (900 to 1700 °F). At the higher end of this
range, nearly 85% of the residual stresses may be relieved.
Stress-relief heat treating in this range, however, may result in
sensitizing susceptible material. This metallurgical effect can
lead to
• SCC in service. Frequently, solution-annealing temperatures of
about 1065 °C (1950 °F) are used to achieve a reduction of
residual stresses to acceptably low values.
 NORMALIZING OF STEEL
NORMALIZING OF STEEL is a heat-
treating process that is often
considered from both thermal and
microstructural standpoints.
•Normalizing is an austenitizing heating
cycle followed by cooling in still or
slightly agitated air.
Typically, the work is heated to a
temperature about 55 °C (100 °F) above
the upper critical line of the iron-iron
carbide phase diagram, as shown in
Fig. that is, above Ac3 for
hypoeutectoid steels and above Acm
for hypereutectoid steels. To be
properly classed as a normalizing
treatment, the heating portion of the
process must produce a homogeneous
austenitic phase (face-centered cubic,
or fcc, crystal structure) prior to
cooling.
Typical normalizing temperatures for
many standard steels are given in
Table 1.
Table 1 Typical normalizing temperatures for standard carbon and alloy steels

Grade Temperature(a) Grade Temperature(a) Grade Temperature(a) Grade Temperature(a)

°C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F

Plain carbon steels 1090 830 1525 3310 925 1700 4140 870 1600

1015 915 1675 1095 845 1550 4027 900 1650 4142 870 1600

1020 915 1675 1117 900 1650 4028 900 1650 4145 870 1600

1022 915 1675 1137 885 1625 4032 900 1650 4147 870 1600

1025 900 1650 1141 860 1575 4037 870 1600 4150 870 1600

1030 900 1650 1144 860 1575 4042 870 1600 4320 925 1700

1035 885 1625 Standard alloy steels 4047 870 1600 4337 870 1600

1040 860 1575 1330 900 1650 4063 870 1600 4340 870 1600

1045 860 1575 1335 870 1600 4118 925 1700 4520 925 1700

1050 860 1575 1340 870 1600 4130 900 1650 4620 925 1700

1060 830 1525 3135 870 1600 4135 870 1600 4621 925 1700

1080 830 1525 3140 870 1600 4137 870 1600 4718 925 1700
Grade Temperature(a) Grade Temperature(a) Grade Temperature(a) Grade Temperature(a)

°C °F °C °F °C °F °C °F

4720 925 1700 5155 870 1600 8642 870 1600 9840 870 1600

4815 925 1700 5160 870 1600 8645 870 1600 9850 870 1600

4817 925 1700 6118 925 1700 8650 870 1600 50B40 870 1600

4820 925 1700 6120 925 1700 8655 870 1600 50B44 870 1600

5046 870 1600 6150 900 1650 8660 870 1600 50B46 870 1600

5120 925 1700 8617 925 1700 8720 925 1700 50B50 870 1600

5130 900 1650 8620 925 1700 8740 925 1700 60B60 870 1600

5132 900 1650 8622 925 1700 8742 870 1600 81B45 870 1600

5135 870 1600 8625 900 1650 8822 925 1700 86B45 870 1600

5140 870 1600 8627 900 1650 9255 900 1650 94B15 925 1700

5145 870 1600 8630 900 1650 9260 900 1650 94B17 925 1700

5147 870 1600 8637 870 1600 9262 900 1650 94B30 900 1650

5150 870 1600 8640 870 1600 9310 925 1700 94B40 900 1650
Comparison of time-temperature cycles for normalizing and full
annealing. The slower cooling of annealing results in higher
temperature transformation to ferrite and pearlite and coarser
microstructures than does normalizing.
 Applications of Normalizing Based on Steel Classification

• All of the standard low-carbon, medium-carbon,

and high-carbon wrought steels can be
normalized, as well as many castings. Many
steel weldments are normalized to refine the
structure within the weld-affected area.
• Austenitic steels, stainless steels, and maraging
steels either cannot be normalized or are not
usually normalized. Tool steels are generally
annealed by the steel supplier.
 The purpose of normalizing varies considerably
• Normalization may increase or decrease the
strength and hardness of a given steel in a
given product form, depending on the thermal
and mechanical history of the product.
Actually, the functions of normalizing may
overlap with or be confused with those of
annealing, hardening, and stress relieving.
• Improved machinability, grain refinement,
homogenization, and modification of residual
stresses are among the reasons normalizing is
done.
Typical applications of normalizing and tempering of steel components

Part Steel Heat treatment Properties after treatment Reason for normalizing

Full annealed at 955 °C

Cast 50 mm (2 in.) Ni- (1750 Tensile strength, 620 MPa (90 ksi); To meet mechanical-
valve body, 19 to 25 Cr- °F), normalized at 870 °C 0.2% yield strength, 415 MPa (60 property requirements
mm ( 3 4 to 1 in.) Mo (1600 °F), tempered at 665 ksi); elongation in 50 mm, or 2 in.,
in °C (1225 °F) 20%; reduction in area, 40%
section thickness

Forged flange 4137 Normalized at 870 °C (1600 Hardness, 200 to 225 HB To refine grain size and
°F), tempered at 570 °C obtain required hardness
(1060
°F)

Valve-bonnet forging 4140 Normalized at 870 °C (1600 Hardness, 220 to 240 HB To obtain uniform
°F) and tempered structure, improved
machinability, and
required
hardness
 Annealing of Steel
ANNEALING is a generic term denoting a treatment that consists of
heating and holding at a suitable temperature followed by cooling at
an appropriate rate, primarily for the softening of metallic materials.

Generally, in plain carbon steels, annealing produces a ferrite-pearlite

microstructure. Steels may be annealed to facilitate cold working or
machining, to improve mechanical or electrical properties, or to
promote dimensional stability.
The following equations will give an approximate critical temperature
for a hypoeutectoid steel

Ac1(°C) = 723 - 20.7(% Mn) - 16.9(%Ni) + 9.1(%Si) - 16.9(%Cr)

Standard deviation = ± 11.5 °C

Ac3(°C) = 910 - 203 %C - 15.2(% Ni) + 44.7(% Si) + 104(% V) +
31.5(% Mo)
Standard deviation = ± 16.7 °C
• Annealing Cycles
• In practice, specific thermal cycles of an almost infinite
variety are used to achieve the various goals of
annealing. These cycles fall into several broad
categories that can be classified according to the
temperature to which the steel is heated and the method
of cooling used.
• The maximum temperature may be below the lower
critical temperature, A1 (subcritical annealing);
• above A1 but below the upper critical temperature, A3 in
hypoeutectoid steels,
• or Acm in hypereutectoid steels (intercritical annealing);
• or above A3 (full annealing).
 Subcritical Annealing

• Subcritical annealing does not involve formation of austenite. The

prior condition of the steel is modified by such thermally activated
processes as recovery, recrystallization, grain growth, and
agglomeration of carbides.
• In as-rolled or forged hypoeutectoid steels containing ferrite and
pearlite, subcritical annealing can adjust the hardness of both
constituents, but excessively long times at temperature may be
required for substantial softening.
• The subcritical treatment is most effective when applied to hardened
or cold-worked steels, which recrystallize readily to form new ferrite
grains. The rate of softening increases rapidly as the annealing
temperature approaches A1. Cooling practice from the subcritical
annealing temperature has very little effect on the established
microstructure and resultant properties.
 lntercritical Annealing
• Austenite begins to form when the temperature of the steel
exceeds A1. The solubility of carbon increases abruptly
(nearly1%) near the A1 temperature.
• In hypoeutectoid steels, the equilibrium structure in the
intercritical range between A1 and A3 consists of ferrite and
austenite, and above A3 the structure becomes completely
austenitic.

• In hypereutectoid steels, carbide and austenite coexist in the

intercritical range between A1 and Acm; and the homogeneity
of the austenite depends on time and temperature. The degree
of homogeneity in the structure at the austenitizing
temperature is an important consideration in the development
of annealed structures and properties.
• The more homogeneous structures developed at higher
austenitizing temperatures tend to promote lamellar carbide
structures on cooling, whereas lower austenitizing
temperatures in the intercritical range result in less
homogeneous austenite, which promotes formation of
spheroidal carbides.
A common annealing
practice is to heat
hypoeutectoid steels
above the upper critical
temperature (A3) to
attain full
austenitization. The
process is called full
annealing.
Recommended
temperatures and
cooling cycles for
full annealing
Recommended annealing temperatures for alloy steels (furnace cooling)

AISI/SAE steel Annealing temperature Hardness (max), HB

°C
1330 845-900 1550-1650 179
1335 845-900 1550-1650 187
1340 845-900 1550-1650 192
1345 845-900 1550-1650 ...
3140 815-870 1500-1600 187
4037 815-855 1500-1575 183
4042 815-855 1500-1575 192
4047 790-845 1450-1550 201
4063 790-845 1450-1550 223
4130 790-845 1450-1550 174
4135 790-845 1450-1550 ...
4137 790-845 1450-1550 192
4140 790-845 1450-1550 197
4145 790-845 1450-1550 207
4147 790-845 1450-1550 ...
4150 790-845 1450-1550 212
4161 790-84 1450-155 ...
AISI Temp Hardness
4337 790-84 1450-155 ...

4340 790-84 1450-155 223

AISI Temp Hardness

50B40 815-870 1500-1600 187

50B44 815-870 1500-1600 197

5046 815-870 1500-1600 192

50B46 815-870 1500-1600 192

50B50 815-870 1500-1600 201

50B60 815-870 1500-1600 217

5130 790-845 1450-1550 170

5132 790-845 1450-1550 170

AISI Temp Hardness
5132 790-845 1450-1550 170

5135 815-870 1500-1600 174

5140 815-870 1500-1600 187

5145 815-870 1500-1600 197

5147 815-870 1500-1600 197

5150 815-870 1500-1600 201

5155 815-870 1500-1600 217

5160 815-870 1500-1600 223

51B60 815-870 1500-1600 223

50100 730-790 1350-1450 197

51100 730-790 1350-1450 197

52100 730-790 1350-1450 207

6150 845-900 1550-1650 201

81B45 845-900 1550-1650 192

8627 815-870 1500-1600 174

8630 790-845 1450-1550 179

8637 815-870 1500-1600 192

8640 815-870 1500-1600 197
8642 815-870 1500-1600 201
8645 815-870 1500-1600 207
86B45 815-870 1500-1600 207
8650 815-870 1500-1600 212
8655 815-870 1500-1600 223
8660 815-870 1500-1600 229
8740 815-870 1500-1600 202
8742 815-870 1500-1600 ...
9260 815-870 1500-1600 229
94B30 790-845 1450-1550 174

94B40 790-845 1450-1550 192

 •Process Annealing

• As the hardness of steel increases during cold working,

ductility decreases and additional cold reduction becomes so
difficult that the material must be annealed to restore its
ductility. Such annealing between processing steps is referred
to as in-process or simply process annealing. It may consist of
any appropriate treatment. In most instances, however, a
subcritical treatment is adequate and least costly, and the term
"process annealing" without further qualification usually refers
to an in-process subcritical anneal.
• is often necessary to specify process annealing for parts that
are cold formed by stamping, heading, or extrusion. Hot
worked high-carbon and alloy steels also are process annealed
to prevent them from cracking and to soften them for shearing,
turning, or straightening.
 Types of Furnaces

• Types of Furnaces
• Furnaces for annealing are of two basic types:
1. Batch furnaces and
2. Continuous furnaces.
• Batch-type furnaces are necessary for large parts such
as heavy forgings and often are preferred for small lots
of a given part or grade of steel and for the more
complex alloy grades requiring long cycles. Specific
types of batch furnaces include car-bottom, box, bell,
and pit furnaces. Annealing in bell furnaces can produce
the greatest degree of spheroidization (up to 100%).
However, the spheroidizing cycles in bell furnaces are
long and last from 24 to 48 h depending on the grade of
material being annealed and the size of the load.
• Continuous furnaces such as roller-hearth,
rotary-hearth, and pusher types are ideal for
isothermal annealing of large quantities of parts
of the same grade of steel. These furnaces can
be designed with various individual zones,
allowing the work to be consecutively brought to
temperature, held at temperature, and cooled at
the desired rate. Continuous furnaces
• are not able to give complete spheroidization
and should not be used for products that require
severe cold forming..
A low-carbon sheet steel in the (a) as-cold-rolled unannealed condition,
(b) partially recrystallized annealed condition, and (c) fully
recrystallized annealed condition. Marshall's etch. 1000×
(a) In the as-received hot-rolled condition, microstructure is blocky
pearlite. Hardness is 87 to 88HRB.
(b) In the partially spheroidized condition following annealing in a
continuous furnace. Hardness is 81 to 82 HRB.
(c) In the nearly fully spheroidized condition following annealing in a bell
furnace. Hardness is 77 to 78 HRB.