Prediction of a tempering steel hardness as a funtion of temperature and chemical composition

Abstract

In the steels design and selection process is essential to have a precise knowledge of the different materials properties, to contrast them with the loads at which the piece or structure shall be submitted. In highly loaded parts, it is very common to use treated steels. In such circumstances, it is important to perform a predictive analysis of the properties that can be obtained through these treatments. The main goal of this work is to predict the hardness of a quench and tempered steel, from chemical composition and tempering temperature. In order to achieve this objective, the work of Grange, Hiribal and Porter, M. Wisti and M. Hingwe, among others were taken as a reference. Firstly, equations which reproduced the effect of each chemical element on hardness were deducted. Subsequently, equations reproducing the curves of hardness of tempered martensite depending on the total alloys content and the tempering temperature were developed. Finally, the results obtained with the modeled equations, were compared versus the experimental data available in the literature. It is expected that the deducted equations, could be used to optimize a computational tool for prediction of mechanical properties, developed in IMA Materials Area.