Worksheet No.

2
Hardenability of Steel
Name: Ramos, Keirvin Cloi D. Section: TXY

Student No. 2018-02822 Rating:

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Assess the Jominy end-quench experiment data presented in the Appendix and evaluate
accordingly. Answer all questions and accomplish all requirements in the succeeding sections. Be
specific and include supporting information or provide context to the answers. Include in-text
citations whenever appropriate and list all references used in the specified section following the
Chicago Manual Style.

1 Based on the ASTM Standard A255-20 Standard Test Methods for Determining Hardenability
of Steel, what are the other methods in estimating or determining the hardenability aside
from the JEQ Test. Briefly explain how each method is performed.
Aside from JEQ Test, one acceptable determinant for hardenability is via multiplying factors.
Without actually conducting any test unlike JEQ, the method utilizes known values of chemical
composition and austenitic grain size to determine the final ideal diameter. By referring to data
provided in ASTM 255-20, the initial ideal diameter is first determined based on the specific
element concentration and austenitic grain size. Then, the multiplying factors corresponding to
other elemental components in the alloy are obtained. Finally, the initial ideal diameter and the
multiplying factors are multiplied to obtain the final ideal diameter of the steel [1].

2 How will overheating during sample preparation affect the validity of the results? What
changes may occur? What are the possible effects of these changes?
Overheating the sample beyond its specific austenitizing time and temperature triggers an
accelerated grain growth, resulting to a larger austenite grain size. And while a larger austenitic
region skews in favor of tensile strength, ductility, toughness, impact strength, and etc. are
sacrificed.
Remember that any coarse microstructure contains less grain boundaries. In the case of austenite,
a higher temperature decreases the chance of pearlite formation, since pearlite nucleates at or
along austenitic grain boundaries. Instead, a coarser, less-bounded, austenitic grain becomes
more inviting for the formation of martensite – a harder, stronger, yet brittle microstructure. Such
a mechanical property is prone to quench cracks [2].

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3 For the hardness measurements: (a) Apply the relevant statistical methods; and (b) Plot the
HRC values (y-axis) against the Jominy distance from the quenched end (x-axis).
Note that one unit of Jominy distance (J) is equivalent to 1/16 inch.

Please refer to the following link for the hardenability curve and the statistical analysis.
https://1drv.ms/x/s!Ai5BCwW3JfqChRiwsUg_qPfXOHUD

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4-5 For the photomicrographs, determine the microstructures produced and present a
representative image. Annotate the images.

For the photomicrographs, note the Jominy distances that correspond to discernable changes
in the microstructure and present the corresponding photomicrographs.

Microstructure and Changes Photomicrograph

At 1/16 in from quench end, needle-like

structure of martensite.

At 1/16 inch from quenched end, 100%

martensite is expected for most metal
alloys. But darker regions indicate
presence of bainite.

Jominy distance: 4/16

Mixture of bainite and martensite.

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Jominy distance: 9/16

Small traces of martensite.

Presence of pro-eutectoid ferrite and

bainite.

Retained austenite is noticeable.

Jominy distance: 15/16

Larger Austenitic region that failed to

transform to martensite.

Bainite is more dominant and

pronounced.

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Alpha ferrite running along the grain

boundaries of austenite.

Bainite and pearlite in dark regions

Jominy distance: 4/8 in from first inch

Predominant pearlite in growing ferrite

matrices along austenite grain
boundaries.

Austenitic regions

Jominy distance: 8/8

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Finer pearlite microstructure in thicker

ferrite matrices

Jominy distance 4/4 from second inch

Jominy distance: 3/4 from third inch

Dominant and coarser pearlite

microstructure in ferrite matrices

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6 Determine the ideal critical diameter (𝑫𝑰 ) through the following: (a) Using Table 7 of ASTM
A255-20a, determine the HRC which corresponds to a microstructure of 50% martensite; (b)
From the hardenability curve, determine the Jominy distance (J) which corresponds to the
hardness in (a); and (c) Using Table 8 of ASTM A255-20a, determine the 𝐷𝐼 which corresponds
to the J derived in (b).
Interpolation of data can be applied if the experimental J is between table values.

(a) Using table 7 of ASTM A255-20a, the HRC designated to a microstructure of 50%
martensite is 43.
(b) From the hardenability curve, the Jominy distance is approximately 6 units (6.0526 to
be exact) from the quenched end.
(c) Using Table 8 of ASTM A255-20a, the DI approximately equivalent to 6.0526 units of
Jominy distance is 2.43 inches.

7 What does the 𝐷𝐼 of the specimen indicate? How can this value be used in material and/or
process design and/or selection?

DI is defined as the ideal diameter of a bar that is hardened to 50% martensite at the center
after an ideal quench. The ideal diameter is indicative of the maximum and critical diameter,
both of which are in significance of ensuring the specimen arrives at the target 50%
martensite and predicting any and all complications in quenching (e.g., quench severity of a
quenching medium, etc.) [2].

8 Correlate the hardness measurements with the representative photomicrographs. Identify

distinguishable phases of the microstructures. How do the hardness values and
microstructures change with respect to the Jominy distance? Do these observations agree
with established literature? If deviation(s) from literature occurred, what are some possible
causes? Annotate the images.

Please refer to items 4-5 for the annotation.

At 1/16 inch from quenched end, 100% martensite is expected for most metal alloys. But
darker regions indicate presence of bainite. This may be due to experimental errors or
unknown impurity atoms that may have caused delay in martensite formation. Overall, the
results of the experiment are consistent with established empirical evidences.
Microstructures and hardness measurements follow the expected trend for a JEQ test.
Generally speaking, for a plain carbon steel, a Jominy distance of 4/16 inches from the
quenched end yields a pearlitic structure, along with pro-eutectoid ferrite. However, for

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alloyed steels, bainite dominates martensite for distances beyond 4/16. Bainite and Pearlite
content increases with decreasing cooling rate [3]. Equivalently, martensite transforms to
bainite or pearlite with decreasing cooling rate, hence the drop in HRC with increasing
distance from the quenched end.

Distance from the quenched end Mean Hardness

1/16 54
4/16 47
9/16 28.33
15/16 22
4/8 from first inch 20
8/8 from first inch 16.33
4/4 from second inch 16
3/4 from third inch 15.33333

9 Enlist the observations and/or relationships that are well-established and supported by the
results of the JEQ test.
The results of the JEQ test yielded a hardenability curve that is consistent with established
empirical evidences. That being said, the following statements summarizes the major conclusions
based on the results
1. Jominy distance varies inversely with hardness. This means that the hardness of a
specimen varies differently from its quenched end and up. And since the rate of cooling is
more abrupt at the quenched end, the region boasts a martensitic microstructure that are
relatively harder and stronger than any region. Thus, the further away from the quenched
end, the lesser the martensitic structures, the softer the specimen.
2. Grain size varies directly with hardenability. There are more grain boundaries available at
and along finer grains than coarser grains. Finer grain sizes trigger a faster nucleation of
pearlite. More and more pearlite forming at a faster rate result to decreasing hardenability.
On the contrary, bigger grain sizes delays the diffusion of carbon, paving a way for the
formation of martensite. Hence, hardenability increases as grain sizes increases [4].

References
[1] ASTM 255-20A (2020). “Standard Test Methods for Determining Hardenability of Steel.” ASTM
International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2015, ASTM.org.

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[2] Herring, Daniel. “Metallurgical Fundamentals of Heat Treating.” Thermal Center. Retrieved last
May 4, 2022. Available https://thermalcenter.bnpmedia.com/courses/industrial-heating-
editorial/metallurgical-fundamentals-of-heat-treating/2/. [Accessed July 19, 2023]
[3] W.D. Callister and D.G. Rethwisch. Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction. John
Wiley & Sons, 2014. eBook.
[4] D.S. MacKenzie (2017). “Factors that affect Hardenability,” Gear Solutions. [Online]. Available
https://gearsolutions.com/departments/hot-seat-hardenability. [Accessed July 19, 2023].

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APPENDIX

Refer to https://tinyurl.com/JEQdata for the photomicrographs.

Table 1. Rockwell C (HRC) Hardness Measurements

FIRST INCH
Rep
1/16 2/16 3/16 4/16 5/16 6/16 7/16 8/16
1 55 52 49 48 46 42 36 29
2 53 50 51 46 45 44 38 31
3 54 51 48 47 45 44 37 32

FIRST INCH
Rep
9/16 10/16 11/16 12/16 13/16 14/16 15/16 16/16
1 28 29 26 25 22 23 22 21
2 28 27 25 26 25 21 23 20
3 29 28 27 25 24 22 21 23

SECOND INCH
Rep
1/8 2/8 3/8 4/8 5/8 6/8 7/8 8/8
1 21 20 21 20 20 18 18 16
2 21 21 20 21 19 20 19 17
3 22 21 20 19 20 19 17 16

THIRD INCH FOURTH INCH

Rep
1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4
1 17 17 15 16 17 14 15
2 16 16 17 15 15 16 16
3 15 16 16 17 14 17 15

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