Effect of carburizing temperature and time on mechanical properties of AISI/SAE 1020 steel using carbonized palm kernel shell

摘要

The effects of varied carburizing temperatures and holding time on the mechanical properties of AISI/SAE1020 steel have been investigated. Standard test samples prepared from the steel sample were subjected to pack hardening process using carbonized palm kernel shell as a carburizer at 800°, 850°, 900° and 950°C and held for 60, 90 and 120 minutes, quenched in oil and temper at 500°C for 60 minutes. After pack hardening process, the test samples were subjected to tensile, impact and hardness tests. and from the data obtained Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and impact strength were calculated, the case and the core hardness of the carburized samples were taken and optical microscope was also used to observe the micro structural features of the case hardened, quenched and tempered samples. It was observed that at 800°, 850° and 900°C, the UTS and the micro hardness initially reduces to minimum and then increased as the carburizing temperature increased, but at 950°C, it was observed that the UTS increases with increase in holding time. It was concluded that the optimum combination of mechanical properties is achieved at the carburizing temperature of 950°C soaked for 120 minutes followed by oil quenching and tempered at 500°C for 60 minutes.