Heat Treatment

Steels

At temperatures just below the eutectoid, relatively thick layers of both the -ferrite and Fe3C phases,are produced; this microstructure is called coarse pearlite. At these temperatures, diffusion rates are relatively high, such that during the transformation carbon atoms can diffuse relatively long distances,, which results in the formation of thick lamellae. With decreasing temperature, the carbon diffusion rate decreases, and the layers become progressively thinner. The thin-layered structure produced in the vicinity of is termed fine pearlite.

The microstructure of bainite consists of ferrite and cementite phases, and thus diffusional processes are involved in its formation. Bainite forms as needles or plates, depending on the temperature of the transformation; the microstructural details of bainite are so fine that their resolution is possible only using electron microscopy

If a steel alloy having either pearlitic or bainitic microstructures is heated to,and left at, a temperature below the eutectoid for a sufficiently long period of time for example, at about 700 deg C for between 18 and 24 hyet another microstructure will form. It is called spheroidite. Instead of the alternating ferrite and cementite lamellae (pearlite), or the microstructure observed for bainite, the Fe3C phase appears as spherelike particles embedded in a continuous phase matrix. This transformation has occurred by additional carbon diffusion with no change in the compositions or relative amounts of ferrite and cementite

Martensite is a nonequilibrium single-phase structure that results from a diffusionless transformation of austenite. Martensite grains take on a plate-like or needlelike appearance The martensitic transformation occurs when the quenching rate is rapid enough to prevent carbon diffusion. Any diffusion whatsoever will result in the formation of ferrite and cementite phases.

 The ductility and toughness of martensite may be enhanced and these internal stresses relieved by a heat treatment known as tempering. Tempering is accomplished by heating a martensitic steel to a temperature below the eutectoid for a specified time period. Normally, tempering is carried out at temperatures between 250 and 650 deg C; internal stresses, however, may be relieved at temperatures as low as 200 deg C. This tempering heat treatment allows, by diffusional processes, the formation of tempered martensite

The microstructure of tempered martensite consists of extremely small and uniformly dispersed cementite particles embedded within a continuous ferrite matrix. This is similar to the microstructure of spheroidite except that the cementite particles are much, much smaller Tempered martensite may be nearly as hard and strong as martensite, but with substantially enhanced ductility and toughness

 The term annealing refers to a heat treatment in which a material is exposed to an elevated temperature for an extended time period and then slowly cooled annealing is carried out to (1) relieve stresses; (2) increase softness, ductility,and toughness; and/or (3) produce a specific microstructure

annealing process consists of three stages: (1) heating to the desired temperature,(2) holding or soaking at that temperature, and (3) cooling, usually to room temperature

An annealing heat treatment called normalizing is used to refine the grains (i.e., to decrease the average grain size) and produce a more uniform and desirable size distribution; fine-grained pearlitic steels are tougher than coarse-grained ones. Normalizing is accomplished by heating at least 55 deg C above the upper critical temperaturethat is, above for compositions less than the eutectoid (0.76 wt% C), and above for compositions greater than the eutectoid After sufficient time has been allowed for the alloy to completely transform to austenitea procedure termed austenitizingthe treatment is terminated by cooling in air