Abstract

This study is concerned with the effect of polymer quenching on some
properties of an alloyed tool steel (X155). Three different operations of heat treatment
have been done including quenching, quenching with tempering and quenching with
freezing. A comparison has been done between the effect of polymeric quenchant i.e.
water solution of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and the conventional quenchants
represented by distilled water, engine oil and food oil in having better properties. Tests
have been done to the original and heat treated specimens which were Brinell hardness
test, wear rate test and thermal conductivity test. Results had revealed that the heat
treatments generally enhance the properties especially the treatment of quenching with
freezing and in most cases the polymeric quenchants gave better results than the
conventional quenchants. Also a simulation to the results of the experimental work has
been done by using the Visual Basic language, and the results gave us an indication to
the behaviour of specimens’ properties at different concentrations of polymeric
quenchants over the range used in the experimental work, beside the great possibilities
of the program in display the experiments which help in training engineers in heat
treatment and testing fields.