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International Journal of
Emerging Research in Management &Technology Research Article May

ISSN: 2278-9359 (Volume-6, Issue-5) 2017
Special Issue of International Conference on Emerging Trends in Science & Engineering (ICETSE–2017)
Conference Held by IEAE India, at Coorg Institute of Technology, Ponnampet, Karnataka, India
Study on the Effect of Heat Treatment on Hardness, Microstructure
and Tribologicalbehaviour of 20MnCr5
Amit Ganapati Shanbhag, Chandrashekhar H., Nithin Holla N. S., P. AkshayPai
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Canara Engineering College, Mangaluru,
Karnataka, India
Abstract: Selection of gear material is an important and critical component in automobiles. In this work, it is
basically concentrated on the study on the effect of heat treatment on 20MnCr5 and analyzing its behavior under
different tests. Heat treatment on low carbon steel is to improve its ductility, toughness, strength, hardness and to
relieve internal stress developed. Here among the heat treatment processes case hardening and through hardening is
carried out to suggest the best suitable process considering the time factor also. Further procedural study,
microstructure study, hardness measurement and worn surface morphology is carried out.
Keywords— carburizing, hardening, worn surface analysis, microstructure.
I. INTRODUCTION
a) Steel
Steel is an alloy of iron with definite percentage of carbon ranging from 0.15%-1.5%. These plain carbon steels
are changed on the basis of their carbon content as they are major alloying element is carbon. Steels with carbon content
varying from 0.25% to 0.65% are classified as medium carbon steel, while those with carbon content less than 0.25% are
termed as low carbon steel. The carbon content of high carbon steels usually ranges within 0.65% -1.5%. Steel is mainly
an alloy of iron and carbon, where other elements are present in quantities too small to affect the properties. The other
alloying elements allowed in plain-carbon steel are manganese and silicon.
Steel with low carbon content has the same properties as iron, soft but easily formed. As the carbon content
rises, the metal becomes harder and stronger but less ductile and more difficult to weld. Medium carbon steels are used
in mining equipment, and tractors. In addition, machined parts such as bolts, and concrete reinforcing bars are made of
this class of carbon steel. Gears, wire rods, seamless tubing, hot-rolled/cold-finished bars and forging products are some
of the objects constructed from medium carbon steel.
The material modification process modifies the behaviour of the steels in a beneficial manner to maximize
service life i.e. stress relieving or strength properties e.g. cryogenic treatment or some other desirable properties. Heat
treatment is a combination of timed heating and cooling applied to a particular metal or alloy in the solid state in such
ways as to produce certain microstructure and desired mechanical properties (hardness, toughness, yield strength,
ultimate tensile strength, young’s modulus, percentage of elongation and percentage of reduction). Annealing,
normalizing, hardening and tempering are the most important heat treatments often used to modify the microstructure
and mechanical properties of steels.
Heat treatment involves the application of heat, to a material to obtain desired material properties. During the
heat treatment process, the material usually undergoes phase micro structural and cryptographic changes. The purpose of
heat treating carbon steel is to change the mechanical properties of steel, usually ductility, hardness, yield strength,
tensile strength and impact resistance.
II. LITERATURE SURVEY

a) Literature review
GUPTA et al. [1] studied the effect of sliding wear characteristics of 0.13wt % carbon steel. Heat treatment was
carried out under various conditions, monitored on a standard pin-on-disk wear testing machine under the normal loads
of 2.5kg, 4.5kg and 5.5kg and at a constant sliding velocity of 1 m/s. Weight loss of the specimen was measured at
various time intervals to obtain wear rate. They found out that the volume loss increases with sliding distance. The
mechanism of wear is primarily oxidative, ferrite – coarse pearlite is superior to ferrite – fine pearlite at all loads. Based
on the wear coefficients the ferrite– coarse pearlite, ferrite–fine pearlite, ferrite–tempered martensite and ferrite–
martensite structures in 0.13 wt. % carbon steel show the wear resistance in decreasing order.
KADAM et al. [2] performed research study on the sliding wear behaviour of carburized 20MnCr5 alloy steel.
The abrasive wear study is performed on pin-on-disc tribotester. Sliding velocity of 0.8m/s, 1.6m/s, 2.4m/s, sliding
distance of 1200m, 1400m, 1600m and Load of 3kg, 4kg and 5kg were used to evaluate the wear resistance. They found
that minimum wear of treated samples is obtained when load is 4kg sliding distances 1200m and sliding velocity is
2.4m/s.
P. STRATTON. [3] studied the effect of cold treatments on the lubricated wear case hardened components. The
samples were cooled to -269°C for 168 hours in liquid helium. The outcome of the study was such that it improved the
parameters that affect component life and decreased the wear. The colder the treatment, the more retained austenite is
transformed and improves the wear resistance.
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Shanbhag et al., International Journal of Emerging Research in Management &Technology
ISSN: 2278-9359 (Volume-6, Issue-6)
AMANDEEP SINGH WADHWA et al. [4] compared the surface hardening techniques for En353 steel grade.
In this paper digester screw made of En353 steel grade is subjected to four surface hardening techniques namely pack
carburizing, gas carburizing, tungsten carbide coating using thermal spray and Stellite 6 coating using TIG welding.
Results and conclusions were then drawn by performing wear and hardness tests.
b) Objective
Having the above data in hand, the project was started with the following objectives.
 Evaluation of mechanical properties (Hardness and Sliding Wear) of 20MnCr5.
 To access a suitable heat treatment process.
 To carry out microstructure study of each sample before and after heat treatment and to analyze the change in
microstructure.
 Analysis of the worn surface morphology.
c) Methodology
 20MnCr5 of (Ø12×30) mm was the selected material.
 Following heat treatment processes were selected.
1) Case Hardening.
2) Hardening and Tempering.
 The following tests were selected for studying the change in properties.
1) Hardness test: Measuring the surface hardness of the sample using C scale of the Rockwell hardness tester
(HRC).
2) Wear test: Measure the wear that takes place in each sample, which will be done using the wear testing
machine.
3) Microstructure analysis: Microstructure of the samples before heat treatment (BHT) and after heat treatment
(AHT) and analyze the same.
4) Wear surface morphology: Capturing the images of the worn surfaces using an optical microscope in order to
assess which wear mechanism dominates among the different hard facing alloys.
III. MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTATION

a) 20MnCr5
20MnCr5 is known as special structural steel (low-carbon, low-chromium steel), and may be recommended for
the applications where wear resistance, medium strength and good toughness are required. In this sense it is used
mechanical engineering for highly stressed components, for example in automobile industry, for parts like gears,
crankshafts. It has a low carbon content and can be hardened by heat treatment followed by tempering and quenching to
achieve the required HRC. The following data sheet gives an overview of 20MnCr5.
Chemical composition of 20MnCr5:
Table 1: Chemical composition
Element Content (%)
Carbon, C 0.18-0.19
Silicon, Si 0.18-0.19
Manganese, Mn 1.28-1.29
Sulphur, S 0.013-0.015
Chromium, Cr 1.00-1.30
Phosphorous, P 0.016-0.018
b) Specimen preparation
The first and the foremost thing for the experiment is the specimen preparation. The specimen size should be
compatible to the machine specifications. The raw sample procured from the steel trader was Low carbon steel 20MnCr5
having 0.18% of carbon. The dimension of prepared specimen is given below:
For hardness test (Vickers Hardness Test) and for wear test (Sliding Wear Test)
Figure 1: Specimen prepared for hardness and wear test

c) Procedure
Carburizing
 Initially the raw material was machined to the required specification (Ø12×30mm). This was done to make sure
that the component can be tested for wear analysis.
 The samples were then loaded to the furnace and heated to autenizing temperature and exposed to carbon rich
atmosphere.
 It takes 6 hours to attain 930°C with a carbon potential of 0.8%. After attaining 930°C, the samples were heated
in the furnace with 4 hours for activation and 5 hours for diffusion processes to take place with the carbon
potential (CP) 0.8% and 0.4% respectively.
 Then the furnace temperature is lowered to 820°C and the CP maintained is 0.4%.
 Finally the specimens were removed from the furnace and oil quenched for 20min followed by tempering at
180°C for 3 hours.
Figure 2: Graph plotted for carburising process time
Figure 3: Case hardened specimen
Hardening
 The specification of the specimens being the same as that for case hardening, another set of samples were
heated in the furnace up to 860°C.
 It takes 5 hours to attain the temperature of 860°C, then maintained at the same temperature for 2 hours with the
CP 3% to achieve hardening heat treatment process.
 After completion of hardening heat treatment process, the temperature is lowered and specimens were oil
quenched and then followed by tempering at 180°C for 3 hours.
 A carbon rich atmosphere in the furnace was achieved with the help of methanol (CH 3OH).

Figure 4: Graph plotted for hardening process time
Figure 5: Through hardened specimen
Figure 6: Tempering process time

d)Hardness testing
The heat treated specimen’s hardness was measured by means of Rockwell hardness tester. The procedure adopted was
listed as follows:
 First the diamond indenter was inserted in the machine.
 A load of 150kgf was used for every test.
 The load was made to dwell on the specimen for a period of 5 seconds.
 Once these settings were configured, the test was started and the values observed in the dial were noted down.
Figure 7: Rockwell hardness apparatus
e) Microstructure study
The change of microstructure in the material due to heat treatment is the main reason for the improved
mechanical properties. Hence the microstructure examination was carried out to find the structure of BHT and AHT.
This consisted of the following steps:
 Rough and fine grinding of the specimen to remove the scales or scratches on the surface.
 Polishing the specimen on velvet cloth until a mirror like surface is obtained.
 Etching the specimen so that the microstructure would be visible under the microscope. This consists of dipping
the sample in 3% nital solution for 2 to 3seconds and then cleaning it with ethyl alcohol for the carburized
specimen. Similar etchants are used for the other specimen.
 Observing the microstructure under a metallurgical microscope.
f)Sliding wear test:

Sliding wear test was carried out in order to find out the loss in weight after a specific period of time. Wear is
related to interactions between surfaces and specifically the removal and deformation of material on a surface as a result
of mechanical action of the opposite surface. The need for relative motion between two surfaces and initial mechanical
contact between asperities is an important distinction between mechanical wear compared to other processes with similar
outcomes. Among many failure modes associated with steel components, wear presents a unique challenge. In the
present investigation, an attempt was made to study the wear characteristics under dry sliding condition at different loads
and speed with fixed distance at room temperature, using a standard pin-on-disk wear testing machine.
For this the following steps were adopted:
 Process starts by weighing the specimen on a sensitive milligram scale. This was done so that the weight loss
due to wear can be determined
 The specimen was fixed onto the machine which has a spinning metallic disc, thereby need to make sure that
the fixed sample is properly levelled.
 A constant and varying load was applied on the specimen at a constant and varying speed. The track diameter
was set at 80mm.
 Wear testing was done on the specimen for 15min under dry conditions after which it was taken out of the
machine.
 Finally, measure the weight of the wear tested specimen. Difference between the initial weight and final weight
of the specimen gives the wear loss in 15minutes.

Table 2: Specifications of the wear testing machine
Sl. No. Description Details
1 Speed Min 200 rpm, max 2000 rpm
2 Normal load 200N max
3 Frictional force 200N max
4 Wear ± 2 mm
5 Wear track diameter Min 50mm, max 100mm
6 Sliding speed Min 0.5 m/sec, max 10 m/sec
7 Specification size(pin) Ø3,4,5,6,8,10 & 12mm
8 Wear disc EN 31, Hardened to 58 to 62 HRC
Figure 8: Pin on disc tester
g)Test parameters and their range:

Wear test was conducted according to the following test parameters for the duration of 15 minutes.
Table 3: Wear test parameters

Distance Load Speed
Sl. No. (m) (Kgf) (rpm)
1 600 2 450
2 600 4 450
3 600 6 450
4 600 8 450
5 600 10 450
6 600 6 150
7 600 6 300
8 600 6 600
9 600 6 750

h) Worn surface morphology
In order to study the morphology and to assess which wear mechanism dominates among the different hard
facing alloys, the micrographs of the worn surfaces of the specimens were examined. The images of the worn surfaces
were captured using an optical microscope with the magnification of 100X, 200X and 500X as to determine how the
wear on each specimen has taken place. The occurrence of different types of wear mechanisms may depend upon the
chemical composition, microstructure and hardness of the material.
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Various mechanical tests were conducted on the specimens were studied and analysed. For carburized
specimens, the case depth obtained was 1.6mm and the optimised process among hardening and carburizing heat
treatment is suggested.
i) Effect of heat treatment on hardness

The load applied for the following values is 150kgf and the dwell time is 5 seconds.
Figure 9: Comparison of hardness by heat treatmen
The above graph shows the variation in Rockwell Hardness Number (HRC). Case hardened and hardened
sample has the highest hardness compared to the other two samples. It is clearly notices that the base material (BHT) has
the low hardness. The AHT specimen has high hardness compared to the BHT specimen. Hence case hardening gives a
good surface hardness as compared to the other procedures followed. Further it is a good method for obtaining surface
hardening for low carbon alloys.
j) Microstructure analysis:
In order to look at the microstructure, first fine grind the sample and then polish it. Then etch the sample and
observe its microstructure. The magnification of the images is 100X and 500X. All the three specimens were selected for
the microstructure analysis. The effectiveness of the heat treatment process in refining and homogenizing the structure
for 20MnCr5 steel is shown in following figures.
Figure 10: Marble etched plain specimen (100X)

Figure 13: Etched Hardened specimen, T = 860˚C, t = 10hours (100X)
Figure 14: Etched Hardened specimen, T =860˚C, t = 10hours (500X)

Figure15: Etched Case Hardened specimen, T= 930˚C, t = 20hours (100X)
Figure 16: Etched Case Hardened specimen, T = 930˚C, t = 20hours(500X)
Figure 17: Etched Case Hardened specimen, T=930˚C, t = 20hours (500X)
Figure 18: Etched Case Hardened specimen, T = 930˚C, t = 20hours (500X)
 Raw material shows equiaxed grains in figure 10, figure 11 and figure 12.
 Hardened specimen shows the formation of martensite along with retained austenite in figure 13 and figure 14.
 Carbon percentage is increased after carburizing heat treatment and the formation of carbide network is
observed in the figure 17 and figure 18.
 Formation of carbide network is more in case hardened specimen which results in brittleness of the material and
unsuitable for machining operations. Hence the specimen has to be carburised for lesser cycle time. To attain
this diffusion time has to be reduced and tempering temperature need to be increased.

k) Sliding wear behaviour
Wear test was conducted on non-heat-treated and heat-treated cylindrical specimens of size 30mm length and
12mm diameter. The wear test was carried out against the counter face of a hardened and polished disc made of En31
steel having HRC from 58 to 65 at a relative humidity of 51.5%. Pin on disc machine in DUCOM, Bangalore (INDIA)
was used to carry out the test.
l) Effect of Load
Figure 19: Volume loss vs speed graph keeping speed and distance constant
m) Effect of Speed
Figure 20: Volume loss vs speed graph keeping load and distance constant
Material with high hardness value will have high wear resistance. Greater hardness does not always mean
greater wear resistance or longer life as it depends on the specimen composition and testing parameters. Several alloys
may have the same hardness rating but vary greatly in their ability to withstand wear. The curve for the carburised
specimen in the figure 19 and figure 20 shows minimum wear as compared to hardened and before heat treated
specimens for varying load and speed respectively.

n) Wear surface analysis
Before heat treatment
Figure 21: Min load (2kg) Figure 22: Max load (10kg)
Figure 23: Min rpm (150) Figure 24: Max rpm (750)
Hardened specimen
Carburized specimen
From the Figure 21 and 22 it can be observed that, the micrograph of un-hard faced specimen shows much
deeper and wider grooves along the wear track which resulted in more damaged regions. This specifies the ploughing
type of wear mechanism is prevailing in un-hardfaced of 20MnCr5 steel. In comparison to this, as shown in Figure 25
and 26 significantly shallower, finer and more continuous wear grooves along the wear track indicate that micro-cutting
is the dominating wear mechanism in hardened sample. Figure 29 and 30 shows comparatively less deep and wider
grooves than un-hardfaced one, which also indicates a ploughing type wear mechanism. The un-hardfaced substrate
contains a matrix of ferrite which has higher ductility and lower hardness, causing ploughing to become the dominating
wear mechanism. However, in hardened specimen cutting and ploughing mechanisms, were taking place simultaneously.
In hardened specimen, cutting to be the dominating wear mechanism owing to hard carbides.
 For minimum load with constant speed of 450rpm the wear loss is less along the wear direction for all the three
specimens.
 For the plain specimen with high load applied the counter face is in high contact with the wear disc and wear
rate is very high in this condition.
 For maximum load with constant speed of 450rpm the wear loss is more along the wear direction. Formation of
wear debris (oxides and hard carburized particles) and the surface metal tends to fold along the wear direction.
Severe plastic deformation has taken place due to high load applied and also formation of cracks can be
observed on the material surface.
 For minimum speed with constant load of 6kg the wear loss is less along the wear direction for all the three
specimens. Here we can clearly see the wear debris.
 For maximum speed and constant load of 6kg the wear loss is more along the wear direction. Surface metal is
folded and is worn out as speed is high.
 And finally analysis regarding the effectiveness of the heat treatment process, we can see that plain specimen
wears fast than hardened and case hardened specimen. As hardness is less in hardened specimen compared to
case hardened, the material wears out and cannot withstand high load and high speed.
 Whereas the case hardened specimen with a hardness value of 62HRC has the best stability against wear and
therefore resistivity of the surface hardness leads to formation of crack has taken place in the specimen.

o) Chemical composition after heat treatment
Figure 33: Variation in the percentage of carbon
From the AHT chemical composition it is observed that carbon percentage has increased by 0.02% for hardened
sample and for case hardened specimen it has increased by 0.34%
V. CONCLUSION
Following conclusions are drawn from the results.
 Highest hardness is obtained fr the case hardening treatment.
 Case hardening process improves the microstructure and wear resistance of the material, due to reduced free
ferrite. Carbon percentage is increased after carburizing heat treatment.
 Hardening heat treatment also increases the hardness of the material but is less compared to the case hardened
specimen. Hence hardened specimen wears easily when compared with the case hardened specimen.
 Microscopic examination revealed the fact that there exists the amount of cementite along with the martensite.
The formation of carbide network in case hardened specimen is more. In order to reduce the carbide network,
diffusion time has to be reduced and tempering temperature need to be increased.
REFERENCES
[1] V. K. Gupta, S. Ray, O. P. Pandey, “Dry sliding wear characteristics of 0.13 wt.% carbon steel,”Materials
Science-Poland., vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 618-631, 2008.
[2] S. S. Kadam and P. S. D. Ambekar, “Dry sliding wear behavior of carburized 20MnCr5 alloy
steel,”International Journal of Science and Reasearch., vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 67–72, 2014.
[3] P. Stratton, “The effect of cold treatments on the lubricated wear of case hardened components,” pp. 1–6,
2010.
[4] A. S. Wadhwa and S. Akhai, “Comparison of surface hardening techniques for En353 steel
grade,”International Journal of Emerging Technology and AdvancedEnginnering., vol. 4, no. 10, pp. 194-203,
2014.
[5] S. Kumar, A. Jain, and P. Singh, “Analysis of abrasive wear characterization and its correlation with structure
for low and medium carbon steels,”International Journal ofEmerging Technology and Advanced Engineering.,
vol. 2, no. 12, pp. 782–790, 2012.
[6] A. Singh, G. Singh, and S. Singla, “Wear behavior of hardfacings on rotary tiller blades,” Procedia
Engineering., vol. 97, pp. 1442–1451, 2014.
[7] X. Steel, J. Brnic, and M. Brcic, “Comparison of mechanical properties and resistance to creep of 20MnCr5
and X10CrAlSi25 steel,”Procedia Engineering., vol. 100, pp. 84–89, 2015.
[8] R. Sola, R. Giovanardi, P. Veronesi, and G. Poli, “Improvement of wear and corrosion resistance of
ferrous alloys by post-nitrocarburizing treatments,”Metallurgical Scienceand Technology., vol. 29, pp. 14–
24, 2011.

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International Journal of

Emerging Research in Management &Technology Research Article May

II. LITERATURE SURVEY

© www.ermt.net, All Rights Reserved Page | 332

III. MATERIALS AND EXPERIMENTATION

Figure 1: Specimen prepared for hardness and wear test

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Figure 2: Graph plotted for carburising process time

Figure 3: Case hardened specimen

© www.ermt.net, All Rights Reserved Page | 334

Figure 4: Graph plotted for hardening process time

Figure 5: Through hardened specimen

Figure 6: Tempering process time

Figure 7: Rockwell hardness apparatus

f)Sliding wear test:

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1 Speed Min 200 rpm, max 2000 rpm

2 Normal load 200N max

3 Frictional force 200N max

5 Wear track diameter Min 50mm, max 100mm

6 Sliding speed Min 0.5 m/sec, max 10 m/sec

7 Specification size(pin) Ø3,4,5,6,8,10 & 12mm

8 Wear disc EN 31, Hardened to 58 to 62 HRC

Figure 8: Pin on disc tester

g)Test parameters and their range:

Table 3: Wear test parameters

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IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

i) Effect of heat treatment on hardness

Figure 9: Comparison of hardness by heat treatmen

Figure 10: Marble etched plain specimen (100X)

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Figure 11: Marble etched plain specimen (200X)

Figure 12: Marble etched plain specimen (500X)

Figure 13: Etched Hardened specimen, T = 860˚C, t = 10hours (100X)

Figure 14: Etched Hardened specimen, T =860˚C, t = 10hours (500X)

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Figure15: Etched Case Hardened specimen, T= 930˚C, t = 20hours (100X)

Figure 16: Etched Case Hardened specimen, T = 930˚C, t = 20hours(500X)

Figure 17: Etched Case Hardened specimen, T=930˚C, t = 20hours (500X)

Figure 18: Etched Case Hardened specimen, T = 930˚C, t = 20hours (500X)

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Figure 33: Variation in the percentage of carbon

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