QUENCHANT PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS USING COMPUTER-SIMULATION

Based on a phenomenological model and computer simulation of transform ations taking place during quenching, a computerised method has been d eveloped for quantitative characterisation of quenching performance of different media. Starting with the measured or calculated heat-transf er coefficient as a function of surface temperature, the procedure dev eloped could be applied to simulate the cooling/transformation process es occurring in hardenable steel specimens of simple geometry (cylindr ical bar, plate). For evaluating and ranking different quenchants, in a quantitative manner, the predicted as-quenched characteristics (mart ensite content) of a pre-selected reference steel, with specified size and composition, can be used. Experiments based on computer simulatio n verify that the proposed method enables a direct comparison between quenchants of different types in a way relevant to the metallurgical r esponse of steel workpieces being hardened.