Dr.

Dharmvir Uppal
Assistant Professor
GNA Institute of Management Technology, Phagwara
M: 097818-00899
E-mail: dharmvir.uppal@gnaedu.in

‘’ Effect of Tempering Behaviour on Heat treated AISI-4130 Flange having Thickness Range-
1.5’’ to 2.5’’ for Process Standardization’’

Abstract; Investigation were carried out to study the effects of heat treatment on the mechanical
properties in AISI-4130 flange. Specimens of AISI-4130 were examined after heating at 870 deg.
And soaked for 38 minutes in a continuous pusher hardening furnace and quenched in water. The
mechanical behaviour of the specimen was investigated using universal tensile testing machines for
mechanical properties and Charpy impact test on -60 deg. The hardness values and tensile strength of
the quenched samples were relatively higher than suggested improved mechanical properties. Tensile
test specimens were produced from AISI-4130 and were subjected to various forms of heat treatment
process like normalizing, hardening and tempering. Results showed that the required mechanical
properties can be changed and improved by normalizing structure for a particular application.
Key Words: Tensile strength, Yield strength, Elongation %, Brinell Hardness and Charpy Impact

Introduction
AISI-4130 steel is a fine-grained, low-alloy steel that offers optimum heat-treat response in heavier
cross-sections. It is used in a variety of bar and tubing applications in quenched/tempered conditions.
Yield and Tensile strengths range from 517Mpa through 655Mpa but may be tempered to higher
strength levels. 4130 combines medium carbon content with alloying to improve harden-ability.
Because the carbon level is lower, 4130 can typically tolerate more aggressive quenching, leading to
improved as-quenched hardness and post-temper properties. Micro-alloying additions are made to
increase temper resistance and provide grain-size control. The fine grain structure enhances
toughness at all strength levels. 4130 is produced using the electric arc-furnace method. After the
melting process, the molten steel is transferred to a ladle refiner for alloy adjustments and vacuum
de-gassing. By performing inert gas stirring under a near-perfect vacuum, impurities and harmful
gases are removed. This melting and refining process path reduces levels of elements such as
phosphorus and sulphur. Refining and inclusion engineering practices are controlled to optimize
strength and toughness properties in both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the final
product. It also enhances resistance to sulphide stress corrosion. After refining the steel, it is teemed
into large bottom poured ingot moulds or continuously cast into large blooms. These ingots or
blooms may be rolled into solid rounds for machining/forging or for conversion into seamless
mechanical tubing. Oil and gas completion equipment such as packers and liner hanger components
and wellhead components including ball valves, gate valves, manifolds, crossover flanges, adapter
flanges, slips and blow out preventers (BOPs).
The improved process modifies the behaviour of the steels in a beneficial manner to maximize
service life i.e. stress relieving or strength properties. Heat treatment is a combination of timed
heating and cooling applied to a particular metal or alloy in the solid state in such ways as to produce
certain microstructure and desired mechanical properties (hardness, toughness, yield strength,
ultimate tensile strength, young’s modulus, percentage of elongation and percentage of
reduction).Annealing ,normalizing, hardening and tempering are the most important heat treatments
often used to modify the microstructure and mechanical properties of engineering materials steels.
Heat treatment involves the application of heat, to a material to obtain desired material properties.
During the heat treatment process, the material usually undergoes phase micro structural and
cryptographic changes. The purpose of heat treating carbon steel is to change the mechanical
properties of steel, usually ductility, hardness, Yield strength, tensile strength and impact resistance.
The standard strengths of steels used in the structural design are prescribed from their yield strength.
Most engineering calculations for structure are based on yield strength. The heat treatment develops
hardness, softness, and improves the mechanical properties (such as tensile strength, yield strength,
ductility, corrosion resistance and creep rupture. These processes also help to improve machining
effect, and make them versatile. Heat treatment operation is a means of controlled heating and
cooling of materials in order to effect changes in their mechanical properties. Heat treatment is also
used to increase the strength of materials.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

For closed die forgings parts we divided 73#s from FMC line items with AISI4130 material class
into four categories. For Recipe #1 The following FMC PART N0 26-015-646 / SARA FORGING
CODE GF072 having thickness 2.03’’ was selected for process trial & validation as it has the highest
usage per FMC requirements and the thickness of the Flange falls in this category as Per Table 1
Table-1
DBI'S
with
Category 4130 2nd Highest
MINIMUM MAXIMUM Highest Volume
per Material MATERIAL Selection of Parts for Volume Part Recipe
THICKNESS THICKNESS Part Number on
Thickness classified GRADE Recipe validation Number on Parts Number
IN INCHES IN INCHES Parts List
range by List
thickness
Range
26-015-646(2.18")&
1 45 4130 1.50 2.50 02-020-800(2.03") 26-015-646 02-020-800 1
2 17 4130 2.51 3.00 GP01-3306(3") GP01-3306 2
3 6 4130 3.01 3.50 P1000008931(3.14") 26-120-362 P1000008931 3
4 5 4130 3.51 4.00 P215346(4") P215346 4
TOTAL 73

Chemical Composition
Chemical composition limits are listed below. An analysis of each heat of steel be made by the
manufacturer, preferably from a ladle sample taken at or near the time of pouring. The listed
elements shall be reported in weight percent. Reporting of residual elements is not required, but total
residuals must not exceed 1%.

ELEMENT COMPOSITION ELEMENT COMPOSITION

CARBON (C) 0.28 - 0.33 VANADIUM 0.10 (max.)
MANGANESE (Mn). 0.40 - 0.60 CHROMIUM 0.80-1.10
PHOSPHORUS (P). 0.025 (max.) MOLYBDENUM 0.15 – 0.25
SULPHUR (S). 0.025 (max.) NICKEL 0.50 (max.)
SILICON (Si). 0.15- 0.30 IRON Balance

Test specimen preparation

The material used for this study is a medium carbon steel with carbon content of 0.30% carbon. The
specimens (Actual Component) were then prepared after process for a tensile test using a standard
format of ASTM. Tensile tests were carried out by a Universal testing machine using prepared
specimens.

Heat treating the medium carbon steel, Standard heat treatment procedures were adapted to heat treat
the medium carbon steel. Nine different samples were prepared for each of the operation and the
average values were calculated based on the analysis was made.

Normalizing Process
The specimens (Actual component) to be normalized were placed inside the continuous pusher
furnace having 8 trays and heated to a temperature of 900 0C. The samples were retained at this
temperature for a period of 38 minutes/tray (because of its mass) during which the transformation
must have been completed. The normalising operation was carried out on nine medium carbon steel
samples having the same dimensions.

Hardening Process

The specimens (Actual component) to be hardened were placed inside the continuous pusher furnace
having 8 trays and heated to a temperature of 870 0C. The samples were retained at this temperature
for a period of 38 minutes/tray (because of its mass) during which the transformation must have been
completed. The hardening operation was carried out on nine medium carbon steel samples having the
same dimensions.

Water Quenching Process

The specimens were quenched in water quenching tank having capacity 6000lt.s.The temperature of
bath or quenching tank shall not exceed 30 0C at the start of quench and not more than 49 0C at the
completion of quench.

Tempering Process

Tempering, consists of reheating quenched steel to a suitable temperature below the transformation
temperature for an appropriate time and cooling back to room temperature. This process allows
microstructure modifications to reduce the hardness to the desired level while increasing the
ductility. Tempering results in a desired combination of hardness, ductility, toughness, strength and
structural stability. The desired properties and structures depend on tempering temperature and
time .The tempering of the quenched specimens was also carried out in continuous pusher type
furnace for 38 minutes/tray having 10 trays in tempering furnace. Experimental heat treatment cycles
for selective alloy is hardening and followed by tempering are done at 620 0C increased by 200C to
6600C for each tempering time interval.

Mechanical test
After these treatments, mechanical properties specimens were examined of the i.e. hardness, tensile
strength, yield strength, elongation and percentage of elongation.

Hardness test

The hardness of specimens was measured with the aid of Brinell method. The specimens were
brought in contact with the indenter .The hardness of a specimen is indicated by the penetration of
the indenter on the said specimen and displayed in dial of the machine. Indents were made on the
grind surfaces using a 3000kg load for HB scale.

Tensile test

The heat-treated specimens were tested in the universal testing machine. The initial gauge length and
diameter were measured before subjecting them to tension. The yield and maximum loads were
recorded, the broken ends of each of the specimens were fitted and final gauge length and also the
smallest diameter of the specimen’s neck were measured. The reading thus obtained was used in the
determination of the yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and toughness.

Charpy Test
V-notch testing was performed on specimens at -600C. V-notch test was performed in accordance
with the requirements specified in ASTM E23.

Microstructure test
Micro structure testing was done on hardened and tempered specimen and structure show tempered
martensite all over the surface with retained austenite

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The heat treated specimens were now subjected to test in Internal and 3rd part NABL approved
laboratory for hardness test, using standard Brinell testing machine and tensile test, Yield strength,
Elongation, Reduction % age by using universal testing machine and charpy impact at -60 deg. C.
Comparative Results are as shown below
The resulting values are obtained from the hardness test and tensile test and plotted in the Figures 1
to 5 showing the range of tempering temperature and the variation of mechanical properties such as
hardness and tensile behaviour etc. The data generated from these graphs for each of the heat treated
specimens processes output result values were analyzed. The data generated from these graphs for
each of the heat treated specimens i.e., Hardening at 870 0C and tempered at different tempering
temperature 6200C to 6600C with soaking time 38 minutes per trey. The processes output were
analyzed. The data clearly show an improvement in hardness after hardening; whereas a decrease in
hardness is observed with increase in tempering temperature. The maximum hardness of 486HB has
been obtained at 8700C hardening. The mechanical properties of hardening samples tempered at
6200C showed that the tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, toughness and percentage of
elongation were 730.6 M pa, 668 M pa, 233.4 HB, 27J, 19.2% respectively. The mechanical
properties of hardening samples tempered at 6400C showed that the tensile strength, yield strength,
hardness, toughness and percentage of elongation were 715.3M pa, 615M pa, 225 HB, 29J, 20.04%
respectively. The mechanical properties of hardening samples tempered at 660 0C showed that the
tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, toughness and percentage of elongation were 711.1M pa,
573M pa, 218HB, 36J, 23.8% respectively.

The results of the specimens which were hardened with water quenched and then tempered at 620 0C,
6400C and 6600C are expressed graphically in Figure.1.

Figure: 1. Tensile strength Vs Tempering temperatures of 6200C to 6600C

The mechanical properties of tempering samples were tempered at 620 0C, 6400C and 6600C showed
that the tensile strength, 730.6 M pa, 715.3 M pa and 711.1 respectively. The results of the specimens
which were hardened with water quenched and then tempered at 6200C, 6400C and 6600C are
expressed graphically in Figure.2.
Figure: 2. Yield strength Vs Tempering temperatures of 6200C, 6400C and 6600C

The mechanical properties of tempering samples tempered at 6200C, 6400C and 6600C showed that
the
Yield strength, 668 M pa, 615 M pa and 573M pa respectively. The results of the specimens which
were hardened with oil quenched and then tempered at 620 0C, 6400C and 6600C are expressed
graphically in Figure.3.

Figure: 3 Hardness Vs Tempering temperatures of 6200C and 6600C

The mechanical properties of tempering samples tempered at 6200C, 6400C and 6600C showed that
the
Hardness value in HB is noted as 233.4,225 and 218 respectively. The results of the specimens which
were hardened with water quenched and then tempered at 6200C, 6400C and 6600C are expressed
graphically in Figure.4.
Figure: 4 Toughness Vs Tempering temperatures of 6200C and 6600C.

The mechanical properties of tempering samples tempered at 6200C, 6400C and 6600C showed that
the
Elongation value in % is noted as 19.2%, 20.04% and 23.8% respectively.

Figure: 5 Elongation Vs Tempering temperatures of 6200C, 6400C and 6600C

The mechanical properties of tempering samples tempered at 6200C, 6400C and 6600C showed that
the
Toughness in J is noted as 27, 29 and 36J respectively. The results of the specimens which were
hardened with water quenched and then tempered at 620 0C, 6400C and 6600C are expressed
graphically in Figure.5. The mechanical properties of tempering samples tempered at 620 0C, 6400C
and 6600C showed that the % of elongation is noted as 19.2%, 20.04% and 23.8% respectively.
CONCLUSION
The tempered samples gave decrease in tensile strength and hardness as the tempering temperature
increases. Comparing the mechanical properties of tempering sample at different tempering
temperatures, it was found that there was Increase in toughness and percentage of elongation. The
quench and subsequent tempering of the steel in the temperature range 6200C to 6600C with soaking
time 38 minutes resulted in a corresponding decrease in tensile strength. In the above tempering
temperature range, toughness of the steel gradually increased with increase in temperature. The result
for toughness receives more value at 6600C compared to the corresponding tempering temperature.
The percentage of elongation is received at lower value in 620 0C compared to the other tempering
temperature.
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