The control of cooling power is very important to introduce desired properties. Usually, higher the cooling rate higher the quench hardness and distortion and the optimization of cooling power is the base for good heat treatment. The change of cooling speed during quenching is one of the effective methods to balance hardness and distortion. Different form the general knowledge of the demerit of vapor blanket stage, oil with long vapor blanket stage is also one of effective methods to reduce distortion. The reduction of distortion with enough quench hardness seems to be possible by optimization of cooling condition by the help of computer simulation. The exhibition of higher core hardness than surface in through hardening steels experienced in the "Inverse quench hardening" was introduced by Prof. Tamura and Shimizu. This mechanism is well explained by Arimoto et al, by analysis of computer simulation. In this paper, plural steps cooling methods are compared, in relation with cooling curve and heat transfer coefficient that is necessary to simulate quench results and the possibility of advanced cooling technology is discussed.
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