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Properties of Quenched Steel



Question: Why is quenched steel harder and stiffer than steel that is allowed to cool
by itself?  What are the physical processes involved?
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Quenching results in smaller grains than air cooled. 
This means more boundaries, which means harder steel. 
Martensite (rapidly cooled)has more, but smaller
(slit-shaped) grains than pearlite (slowly
air-cooled), which has larger rounder grains.

Hope this helps

-Wil Lam
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Up-dated:  2002084

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