ASM Handbook Volume 4B:2014

Volume 4B covers a variety of topics associated with steel heat treating, including modeling and simulation, process control, furnace types, common heat treating problems, and troubleshooting and prevention techniques. Building on the material presented in Volume 4A, Steel Heat Treating Fundamentals and Processes, it delves into the complexities of part distortion, residual stress, and cracking, explaining why it occurs in treated steel parts and how to predict, measure, and minimize its damaging effects. It also describes the important role of quenchants and how to set up, monitor, and maintain batch quenching processes to ensure uniform hardening for a variety of steels and component shapes. In addition, the volume offers insights on decarburization and its impact on component life, and includes reference information on furnace atmospheres, combustion efficiencies, heat-transfer equations, and more.