Tempering of Die-steels based on indigenous materials

Abstract

This paper present studies on the effects of quenching temperature, tempering temperature and time on the hardness of three die steels of similar carbon contents but having increasing chromium percentages. While tempering in the range of 150°C to 400°C it was observed that hardness decreased as quenching temperature was raised. All the steels showed secondary hardening phenomenon in relation to the variables mentioned above. It was also observed that on tempering the steels above 450°C, after prior quenching from increasing temperatures, hardness gradually increased upto the quenching temperature of 1100°C, beyond which followed a decrease in hardness. This phenomenon was the decrease in hardness. This phenomenon was the same at all tempering temperatures upto 601°C, but the increase in hardness from low quenching temperatures to the maximum quenching temperature was less at 450°C than at the higher temperatures and attained a maximum at 600°C secondary hardening decreased with the increase of quenching temperature