HEAT TREATMENT (NORMALIZING) PROCEDURE NO:TEPL/PROD/02

REV NO: 00
PROCEDURE Date: 01/04/2013

1. SUBJECT

Heat treatment process normalizing after deformation of carbon steel and all predominated materials.

2. METHOD OF OPERATION

2.1 All our furnaces are temperature surveyed and calibrated.

2.2 Pieces are placed into the furnaces, either:

In lower dome position on the furnace base,
In lower dome position, on a performed refractory supports,
In lower dome position on a handling supports,
In lower dome position, the edge of the head seating on three triangular supports.

2.3 The furnace base will be clean and free of scrap metal before loading of the pieces.

3. PURPOSE OF OPERATION

Normalizing may be defined as heating the steel to austenite phase and cooling it in air. It is done as
achieve any one of the following purposes.

3.1 To eliminate coarse-grained structure obtained in previous working operation such as rolling,
forging etc.
3.2 To modify and improve cast dendritic structure and reduce segregation by homogenizing the
microstructure.
3.3 To obtain desired microstructure and mechanical properties.
3.4 To improve machinability of low carbon steel.

In normalizing steel is uniformly heated to a temperature which causes complete transformation to

austenite. The steel is held at this temperature for sufficient time for the formation of homogeneous
structure throughout its mass. It is then allow to cool in still air in a uniform manner. Air cooling result
in faster cooling rate than the furnace cooling. Thus, the cooling time in normalizing is drastically
reduced as compared to annealing.

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4. NORMALIZING TEMPERATURES & SOAKING TIMES

Depending upon the carbon content of the steel, following normalizing temperature are recommended,

Hypoeutectoid steels – Ac3 + 50̊ C

Hypoeutectoid steels – Acm + 50̊ C
Normalizing temperature generally varies from 810 to 930ͦ C. After reaching the normalizing
temperature, it is held at this temperature at the rate of 1 hour/25mm thickness. Higher temperature and
longer soaking time may be given for alloy steels and heavier cross-sections.

5. ATTACHMENTS AND ARRANGEMENT OF THERMOCOUPLES

Minimum 2 Nos. of thermocouples shall be attached to and located on the job item to ensure that all
positions of the job are properly and uniformly heat treated, without the presence of detrimental thermal
gradients. K-Type thermocouples shall be used.

6. REMOVAL OF THERMOCOUPLES AND TEMPORARY ATTACHEMENTS

After Normalizing, when the job is cooled to atmospheric temperature, the thermocouples shall be
removed from the job surface by smoothly grinding and the concerned area shall be examined by
PT/MT. The same procedure (including NDE) shall be adopted for removal of temporary
attachments/supports (if any).

7. PROPERTIES AFTER NORMALIZING

Similar to annealing, normalizing steel will have higher hardness and strength than annealed steel due
to the following reasons.

a) The amount of pearlite in the normalizing steel is more than that in the annealed steel having the
same carbon content, due to the shifting of the eutectoid composition to a lower value.
b) The dispersion of pearlite and ferrite phase is finer.
c) The pearlite of normalizing steel is finer and has a lower interlamellar spacing than that of
annealed steel.

Microstructure of a 0.3% carbon steel in annealed and normalized condition. Hardness after
normalizing generally varies from 120 to 300 BHN depending upon the carbon content and the section
thickness. Variation of Normalizing temperature and the resulting hardness values with the carbon in
the steel is shown in the table:
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 *VARIATION OF NORMALIZING TEMPERATURE AND THE RESULTING HARDNESS WITH THE CARBON CONTENT IN STEEL

Sr. No. Carbon content in steel (%) Normalizing temperature (C) Resulting hardness (BHN)
1 0.18 – 0.22 900 – 925 120 – 160
2 0.23 – 0.28 890 – 910 140 – 190
3 0.29 – 0.38 880 – 900 150 – 220
4 0.39 – 0.55 840 – 870 180 – 230
5 0.56 – 0.80 810 – 840 210 – 270

8. PRECAUTIONS

a) Prior to heat treatment, all oil, grease, paint etc. shall be removed from the job items.
b) Job items shall be supported as necessary to avoid any deformation or damage.
c) Part and burners shall be suitably located as to avoid flame impingement.
d) Furnace atmosphere shall be controlled to avoid excess oxidation of metal surface.

9. DOCUMENTATIONS

All pertinent information concerning the heat treatment of the job shall be recorded and made available
to the authorized inspector. The documentation should contain the following as a minimum.

a) Heat treatment procedure.

b) Heat treatment chart.
c) Calibration certificates.

10. SAFETY

Adequate safety precautions shall be taken for men and materials. Person performing heat treatment
shall adhere to mandatory safety rules of the factory, such as, use of safety shoes, helmets, face mask
protectors, gloves etc.

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