Author(s)

A.V. Adedayo, S.A. Ibitoye, O.O. Oluwole

Materials Science and Engineering Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife,Nigeria.
Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

This paper reports investigations made on the tempering heat treatment effects on steel welds. The properties of the weld investigated were hardness value and toughness. Micro examination of the samples was also done with optical microscopy. Four (4) different grades of steel rods in 10mm diameter were obtained. The range of the carbon contents of the steel rods was from 0.16 wt% C to 0.33 wt % C. From each grade of the steel materials, grooved specimen of about 150 mm were prepared. The grooves were then filled to create welds using arc welding. A set of the resulting welds were then subjected to tempering heat treatment. The hardness values and toughness of the welds were determined. The microstructural analyses of the welds were carried out as well. The results show that hardness and toughness were dependent on the carbon content. There was also significant microstructural modification due to heat treatment.

Welding, Tempering, Heat treatment, Hardness, Toughness, Microstructure

A. Adedayo, S. Ibitoye and O. Oluwole, "Tempering Heat Treatment Effects on Steel Welds," Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, Vol. 10 No. 8, 2011, pp. 755-764. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2011.108059.