Authors:

Yichu Xu

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About Paper:

Austempering is an isothermal transformation widely employed in the industry to enhance the ductility, corrosion resistance, and hydrogen embrittlement resistance of alloys by achieving a lower bainitic organization. The choice of an appropriate quenchant with high-temperature resistance and suitable properties holds significant importance in the austempering process. Conducting a comparative analysis and characterizing different quenchants can provide valuable insights for optimizing plant and production efficiency. This study examines more than 50 quenchants, encompassing molten salts, fluorinated oils, phosphate ester oils, natural oils, and silicon-based polymers. While considering the cost-effectiveness and solvent blend composition, the investigation focuses on understanding their degradation patterns and boiling points by thermodynamic analysis in both air and nitrogen circunstances, as well as flashpoints and other factors. The results indicate that higher viscosity polydimethylsiloxane (trimethyl siloxane terminated) and high oleic natural oils have elevated degradation points, rendering them more suitable for austempering than conventional industrial oils. Moreover, refining the specific compounded natural oils further increases their flashpoints. Consequently, oils and polymers are being explored as potential alternatives to quench salts in order to enhance the austempering process.

Source:

Purdue University / 2023

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Co-authors:

Yichu Xu