When it comes to steel, not all types can be hardened through traditional methods.
Understanding which steels can and cannot be hardened is crucial for various industrial applications.
Here are five key points to help you understand which types of steel cannot be hardened.
What Steel Cannot Be Hardened? 5 Key Points to Know
1. Stainless Steels and Hardening
Stainless steels like 17.4ph can be precipitation hardened.
Other types of steel can be hardened through heating and quenching.
However, not all types of steel can be hardened.
2. Non-Martensitic Stainless Steels
Non-martensitic stainless steels cannot be hardened through traditional heat treatment processes.
These include austenitic stainless steels and ferritic stainless steels.
3. Austenitic Stainless Steels
Austenitic stainless steels, such as 304 and 316 grades, have a high chromium and nickel content.
They have a stable austenitic structure at room temperature.
This structure does not transform into martensite upon cooling, which is necessary for hardening.
Therefore, they cannot be hardened through conventional heat treatment methods involving quenching.
4. Ferritic Stainless Steels
Ferritic stainless steels, like grades 430 and 446, have a stable ferritic structure.
This structure does not transform into martensite upon cooling.
They can only be hardened through cold working, which increases their strength and hardness.
They cannot be hardened through the heat and quench process used for martensitic steels.
5. Applications of Non-Martensitic Stainless Steels
Non-martensitic stainless steels, including austenitic and ferritic grades, are typically used in applications where corrosion resistance is more critical than high hardness.
These applications include food processing equipment, chemical containers, and architectural applications.
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