Effect of heat treating parameters on hardness and

microstructure of Fe-18Ni-9Co-5Mo high alloy steel and determination of optimal heat treatment conditions
Introduction:
The aim of project is to obtain the best combination of properties by varying the temperature and time parameters. The specimens are of a high strength maraging steel. The application of this high strength maraging steel is in aerospace parts, military weapons etc.

Maraging Steel ?
Maraging steels are carbon free iron-nickel alloys with additions of cobalt, molybdenum, titanium and aluminum.The term maraging is derived from the strengthening mechanism, which is transforming the alloy to martensite with subsequent age hardening (aging).

APPLICATIONS 1. engine component applications such as crankshafts and gears. 2. Ordinance components and fasteners. 3. Formula One Racing structural components are often made from these steels. 4. the firing pins of automatic weapons.

EXPERIMENTAL WORK
Following steps were carried out: Sample Preparation:
1..Sampling 2. Sectioning/Cutting 3. Mounting 4. Grinding 5. Polishing 6. Cleaning 7. Etching

Combinations of Heat treatment parameters :

Factorial Design:
Factorial design has several important features. First, it has great flexibility for exploring or enhancing the signal (treatment) in our studies. Whenever we are interested in examining treatment variations, factorial designs should be strong candidates as the designs of choice.

Metallography: The branch of metallurgy, which

deals with the examination of metals and alloys surfaces with naked eye or at higher magnification, is known as Metallography

XRF :The phenomenon is widely used for elemental

analysis and chemical analysis particularly in the investigation of metals,glass,ceramics and building materials,and for research in geochemistry, forensic science and archaeology.

Sample Factor A Factor B Temp C Time (Hrs) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 550 500 450 550 500 450 550 500 450 6 4 5 5 6 6 4 5 4 There are four response for analysis. Hardness,Tensile strength Microstructure and Grain size

Heat Treatment: The controlled application of

time, temperature and atmosphere to produce a predictable change in the internal structure of a material

Hardness Measurement: Hardness is the

measure of how resistant solid matter is to various kinds of permanent shape change when a force is applied. PROJECT ADVISOR : ENGR. BILAL AHMED ENGR. LARAIB KHANZADA (CO-SUPERVISOR)

Analysis Of Responses: Taguchi method:

Dr. Taguchi of Nippon Telephones and Telegraph Company, Japan has developed a method based on " ORTHOGONAL ARRAY " experiments which gives much reduced " variance " for the experiment with " optimum settings " of control parameters. Thus the marriage of Design of Experiments with optimization of control parameters to obtain BEST results is achieved in the Taguchi Method

PROJECT MEMBERS :
SYED FASIH (MY-021) SOBIA SALEEM (MY-040) ABDULLAH SHAREEF (MY-054) YUSHA FAREED (MY-060)

MYD .Batch 2007-08