Author(s): N.A. Razik and M. Abdul Momen
Article publication date: 1987-08-01
Vol. 5 No. 2 (yearly), pp. 259-269.
167
Keywords
Saudi Steel, mechanics, physics
Abstract
The effects of austenitizing time and temperature, water, air, oil, and molten lead quenching media on the mechanical and structural properties of the hot-rolled steel have been investigated using Vickers hardness testing. tensile testing and the scanning electron microscopy.
The microstructure of the as-received or the air-quenched steel consisted of proeutectoid ferrite and pearlite areas. Water quenching has produced high strength lenticular martensite but quench cracks were observed. Bainitic structures were obtained in the palm-oil quenched specimens. When Petromin oil was used as a quenching medium, a lamellar martensitic structure was produced.
From the strengthening point of view it was suggested that the rods produced after hot rolling could be cooled directly into palm oil or Petromin-type oil as this would improve the strength of the steel by about 20-60%.