Back to basics – Fracture toughness testing

In previous articles, we have discussed the many different types of mechanical testing methods and requirements. While some of the test methods have application...

Back to basics – Toughness testing of material

In the last series of articles, we discussed hardness testing and tensile testing. In these applications, the loading is a static load over a...

Back to basics: Mechanical testing – the tensile test

In the previous article, we discussed hardness testing, and the various methods of hardness testing were illustrated. In this article we discuss the tensile...

Back to basics: Hardness testing, Part 2

In last month’s Hot Seat article, we began a discussion on the various methods of mechanical property testing. Overall, we are going to discuss...

Back to basics: Hardness testing, Part 1

In a series of Hot Seat articles, we are going to discuss the various methods of mechanical property testing. We will be covering hardness...

Four basic types of fracture mechanisms: Part II

In the previous article, we discussed the fracture surfaces that are apparent for ductile or overload type fractures, and the fractures that occur with...

Four basic types of fracture mechanisms

When a component fails, the fracture surface of the broken component can tell a great deal regarding the mechanism of failure. It can often...

Cost, cleanliness, carbon footprint affect quenchant

Vegetable oils are seeing increased interest as quenchants for steel because of low carbon footprint, a renewable resource, and the ability to reclaim/recycle into...

Quench system monitoring requirements in AMS 2759G

AMS 2759G Heat Treatment of Steel Parts, General Requirements was adopted April 23, 2019. This important aerospace specification governs the heat treatment of...

Reclamation and recycling of quench oil

Because of the cost, many captive and commercial heat treaters are looking at reclaiming or recycling their quench oil as a method of saving...

Back to basics with tempering (Part II)

After a part has been austenitized and quenched, it must be tempered. As was discussed previously , the purpose of tempering is to relieve...

Back to basics: The mechanism of quenching

Regardless of the product, it is likely that it is heat-treated and quenched. Engine components are heat-treated for wear and durability (Figure 1). Aircraft...

Back to basics: Austempering and its advantages

In the previous articles, we discussed the processes of quench and temp, and martempering. In quench and tempering, the part is heated to the...

Back to basics: Martempering to reduce distortion

In the previous article, we discussed the principle of quench and temper, which is arguably the most common type of steel heat-treating. In this...

Back to basics: Quenching, tempering as heat treatments

This article describes the most common type of heat treatment of steel. This includes austenitizing, quenching, and tempering. In this process, the part is...

Getting back to basics with tempering

Once a part has been quenched, it must be tempered. This accomplishes two things: First, it relieves the thermal and transformational stresses from quenching....

Understanding the different types of heat treating

In the last article, we discussed many different types of annealing, and the reduction of distortion by application of stress relief annealing. In this...

Understanding different types of heat treatment: Annealing

In the last few installments we discussed the use of  Time-Temperature-Transformation and Continuous Cooling Transformation diagrams to understand the phase changes that occur during...

Continuous Cooling Transformation Diagrams

In the last column, we discussed the construction and application of Time Temperature Transformation or Isothermal Transformation diagrams. It was shown how these diagrams...

The Time-Temperature-Transformation Curve

In the previous column, we discussed the formation of the Iron-Carbon phase diagram. This diagram allowed us to estimate the microstructure under non-equilibrium conditions....