The Effect of The Chemical Composition of Steel on The Steel Hardness
Through the study of the effect of the chemical composition of steel on the steel hardness, it can be concluded that the steel hardness is closely related to the chemical composition of steel. The composition of carbon and alloy elements in steel plays a decisive role in the formation of hardening laws in steel, and different hardening laws have different effects on the hardness of steel.
The hardness of steel is related to its chemical composition. Carbon is the most abundant element in steel and has the most influence on steel. The carbon content in the steel determines the critical hardening of the austenite during the quenching process, thus affecting the strength and hardness of the steel. Generally, when the carbon content in steel is low, it can not be hardened; when the carbon content is high, the plasticity and toughness of the steel will decrease, but the hardness and strength of the steel will increase. Therefore, the strength and hardness of steel can be improved by increasing the carbon content of steel, but the plasticity and toughness of the steel will decrease accordingly.
In addition to carbon, alloy elements such as chromium and vanadium also have an effect on the hardness of the steel. Chromium and manganese can significantly increase the hardenability of steel, reduce the cooling rate at which hardening occurs, and improve the hardenability of steel. Vanadium forms vanadium carbide with carbon in the steel, which has a high hardness, so adding vanadium to the steel can significantly increase the hardness of the steel. However, adding too much vanadium will make the steel brittle, so it should be controlled appropriately.
In conclusion, the hardness of the steel is closely related to its chemical composition. The carbon content of steel determines the critical hardening of austenite during the quenching process, while alloy elements such as chromium and vanadium can significantly increase the hardness of the steel. Therefore, appropriate control of the chemical composition of steel can adjust the hardness of steel and improve the performance of steel.
