The Heat Treat Doctor

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Daniel H. Herring | 630-834-3017 | heattreatdoctor@industrialheating.com

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A Quench-and-Temper Technique for

Evaluating Carburized Case Depths

h say that you cant teach an old dog a new trick, but
hey
what about teaching a new dog an old trick? Did you
w
kknow there is a simple and highly accurate shop-floor
ttechnique to measure case depth that does not involve
microhardness
testing or carbon-bar analysis? Lets learn more.
h d
The Method
The method was developed by Rowland and Lyle [1] and rests on
the principle that you can create a clear
and precisely measureable line of demarcation (Fig. 1) between tempered martensite
formed in a quench bath held for a short
time at the martensite-start (Ms) point of
the steel and the freshly formed martensite
produced by subsequent water quenching.
The technique involves taking a small
specimen from a carburized load and reaustenitizing it followed by quenching into
a bath maintained at the martensite-start point of the steel corresponding to the carbon content at which the case-depth measurement is desired. The method is quick for a large number of samples
and has good repeatability.
The Theory
The method relies on the principle that a properly austenitized
sample can be quenched into a bath maintained at the Ms temperature corresponding to the carbon content at which the case
measurement is desired, held at this temperature for a very short

time (typically seconds) and water quenched to achieve a line of

demarcation between the case and core. Case depths measured at
various carbon levels typically range from 0.400.70% C.
The effect of carbon on the Ms point is independent of either
the type or amount of alloying elements associated with it. The
effect of elements other than carbon on the Ms point is sufficiently
small that normal variation of analysis from heat to heat within
a given type can be generally ignored and a single set of conditions used. Chemical segregation or extreme variations of both
manganese and chromium in the same direction away from the
middle of the range can affect local Ms temperature and have to
be taken care of by slight adjustments.
A great deal of work has already been done to accurately determine the Ms temperature for most steels.[3] It is well known that
the Ms temperature is strongly dependent on the composition of
austenite, the parent phase. The effect of individual alloying elements upon the Ms temperature for iron-based (binary) alloys has
also been extensive studied. The results show that Al, Ti, V and
Co effectively increase the Ms temperature, whereas Nb, Cu, Cr,
Mo, Ni, C and N cause it to decrease.
The Process
Typically, a small sample (e.g., 2.25-inch OD x 1.25-inch ID x
1.25-inch long) is austenitized in either a standard laboratory
box furnace or a salt bath. If a box furnace is used, the samples
are typically coated with either a boric-acid slurry or a stop-off
paint to prevent decarburization. The samples are heated and
held long enough to produce complete carbon solution at the

Table 1. Steel grades and test conditions

Steel

Thickness
Inches (mm)

Quench-bath conditions at the indicated carbon level

Austenitizing
Conditions

0.40% C

0.50% C

0.60% C

0.70% C

Temp F (C)

Time,
min

Temp F (C)

Time,
sec

Temp F (C)

Time,
sec

Temp F (C)

Time,
sec

Temp F (C)

Time,
sec

1018
1020

0.0625 (1.60)

1550 (840)

10

635 (335)

570 (299)

10

510 (265)

10

450 (232)

10

3310
3312

Open

1650 (900)

15

450 (232)

10

390 (199)

20

320 (160)

20

260 (127)

20

4028

0.0625 (1.60)

1550 (840)

10

635 (335)

10

570 (299)

10

510 (265)

10

450 (232)

10

4320

Open

1525 (830)

15

550 (288)

30

490 (254)

30

430 (221)

30

375 (190)

30

4620
4720

Open

1525 (830)

15

580 (304)

30

515 (268)

30

460 (238)

30

400 (204)

30

4820

Open

1525 (830)

15

515 (268)

60

460 (238)

60

390 (199)

300

335 (168)

300

8620
8720

0.250 (6.00)

1525 (830)

15

595 (313)

10

530 (277)

30

480 249)

30

415 (213)

30

18 September 2009 - IndustrialHeating.com

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TH

desired carbon level. The sample is then rapidly quenched into

a salt or oil bath and held for the appropriate temperature/time
(Table 1) prior to water quenching. For higher Ms temperatures,
salt quenching is common. For lower temperatures (up to around
300350F), oil quenching is often used (provided the oil doesnt
smoke too much).
This technique works for any steel for which you can calculate or experimentally determine the Ms temperature for the desired carbon level. The technique is easy to perform and does
not restrict control of conditions except on very low-carbon or
low-alloy steels. It is important to hold at the isothermal quench
temperature longer at lower temperatures so that the martensitic
portion formed at that temperature will isothermally temper and
etch dark (2% nital) while the outer portion, which remains austenitic until the final water quench transforms it to fresh martensite, does not etch. At higher isothermal hold temperatures,
the auto isothermal tempering occurs more rapidly, reducing the
need for long hold times.
Pros and Cons
The biggest advantage of this test is that it is quick and easy. It is
also highly accurate for carbon levels above 0.40%.
One of the great advantages of this method is that the line of
demarcation between the tempered and freshly formed martensite
(due to quenching) is sufficiently sharp to permit the average heat
treater to determine case depth within 0.002 inch (0.050 mm) using a simple calibrated loop or low-power stereomicroscope. This
level of accuracy is true whether comparing to microhardness or
carbon-bar (gradient) methods.
Further, none of the test conditions require close control (except for carbon and very low-alloy steels); a change of 6F (3.5C)
represents only one point (0.01% C) of carbon. And almost any
sized specimen convenient for (hand) polishing can be used. Finally, the effect of elements other than carbon on the Ms point is
sufficiently small that normal variation of analysis from heat to
heat can generally be ignored allowing a single set of parameters
to be used.
The principal limitation of this method lies in its application to
low-carbon (e.g., SAE 1018/1020) and very low-alloy (e.g., 4028)
steels because of bainite formation in the constant-temperature
bath. In these cases, a maximum specimen thickness of 1/16 inch
(1.60 mm) is required, and this presents both difficulties in handling and control of quench-bath temperature. For example, a
1020 steel quenched to the 0.40% C level at 635F (335C) held for
three seconds is too short a holding time for good delineation, five
seconds is satisfactory while 10 seconds is too long (completely
obscuring the line of demarcation because of bainite formation).
Precautions should also be taken to avoid pearlite formation on
quenching as well as to ensure complete carbon solution at the
desired level of measurement before quenching.
20 September 2009 - IndustrialHeating.com

Fig. 1. Case/core demarcation by Ms point method (0.50% C

sample) (a) Ms test specimen (2-3X) that has been heat treated,
mounted, polished and etched. The lighting makes the unetched
(fresh martensite) zone on the outer edge look black, but it is
actually a shiny polished surface. (b) Close-up of the demarcation
zone between the etched (tempered-martensite) zone and the
unetched (fresh-martensite) zone. The line of demarcation is
not exact. Generally, the depth is read using a Brinell scope at
approximately 12-15X. When you read the depth, you read to the
depth where the tempered martensite layer is consistent (not to
the outer edges of the tempered martensite wisps). At 12-15X
the line is not as fuzzy and the depth can be pretty consistently
measured to +/-0.001 inch (0.025 mm) or so.

Finally, the dividing line between the higher-carbon fresh martensite and the lower-carbon tempered martensite is often not a
perfectly straight line, and different operators will read slightly
different values depending on where they judge the line of demarcation to be. Readings can vary from operator to operator, especially if the depth is determined by a Brinell scope.
Tips
To make the job easier:
1. Samples must be cut before applying this technique and not
afterward to avoid tempering the freshly quenched martensite.
2. Good etching practices are essential as the sample should be
etched just enough to develop maximum contrast.
3. Material that is heavily banded can still be evaluated using this
method, but tight control of the process parameters is mandatory.
Summing Up
This method is simple, straightforward and can be easily performed by shop personnel, making it a valuable addition to the
heat treaters arsenal of testing methods. IH
Acknowledgment
The author would like to thank Mr. Craig Darragh, senior product technologist steel, The Timken Company, for providing both the idea and
inspiration for this article.

References (online only)