Quench Factor Characterization of Quenchants for Hardening of Steel

Successful hardening depends on the hardenability of steel composition, the geometry of parts, the quenching system, and on the heat treating process used. This article provides a brief overview of the computation and use of quench factor analysis (QFA) to quantify as-quenched hardness for carbon and low-alloy steels. As a single-value parameter alternative to Grossmann H-values, QFA is a potential method to qualify a quenching medium or process or to effectively monitor variation of quench severity due to either the quenchant or the system. The article describes the procedures for experimentally determining the quench factors by using a type 304 austenitic stainless steel probe. Typical examples of the utilization of QFA for quenchant characterization are provided. The article also describes the methods for experimentally generating time-temperature-property curves.