A novel analytical approach to ascertain hardenability of plain carbon steel

ABSTRACT

An analytical model is conceived to correlate thermal processing parameters, phase transformation parameters, microstructural features and the resultant hardening response of steel. Three equations evolved thereby readily resolve the issues of direct graphical determination of hardenability parameters, variation of unhardened core region with the diameter of steel and quantitative prediction of the microstructure. The model is successfully validated with existing experimental database of hardenability parameters following chemical composition-cum-grain size method as well as in view of own experimentation carried out on available steel. This elucidates a new conduit of understanding thermal processing-based solid state phase transformation in steel.

KEYWORDS:

• Steel
• solid state phase transformation
• hardening behaviour
• analytical model
• validation

Acknowledgements

The analytical model is conceived and formulated by Professor Joydeep Maity. Further necessary support to computation and experimental work is provided by Mr. Anupam Sharma under the guidance of Professor Joydeep Maity. No external funding source is utilised for carrying out this research work. The authors are thankful to the Director, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, India, for necessary administrative support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).