When Is Quenching Used?

Quenching is the rapid cooling of a heated metal in a quenching medium such as water, oil or air in order to obtain desirable material properties. In metallurgy, quenching is one of the critical steps in the heat treatment of a metal and is typically used to harden the final steel product.

Which quenching medium is commonly used?

Quenching metal in oil is the most popular method because it is relatively severe but with a diminished risk of cracking and warping. In addition, a wide range of parts quench well in oils because the chemical makeup and temperature of a quenching oil can be adjusted to suit desired end results.

Why do we quench metals?

In metallurgy, quenching is most commonly used to harden steel by inducing a martensite transformation, where the steel must be rapidly cooled through its eutectoid point, the temperature at which austenite becomes unstable. ... This allows quenching to start at a lower temperature, making the process much easier.