Source: Paulo
One of the rules in metallurgy is: “As strength increases, ductility decreases.”
What if it were possible to combine both strength and ductility in the same material? This is the challenge that a team of metallurgists took on at a leading heat treating company located in Willoughby, Ohio, starting with tests that compared enhanced property 4140 steel to vacuum arc re-melted (VAR) 4340 steel.
When all was said and done, Paulo Heat Treating, Brazing and Metal Finishing “developed a family of enhanced property processes that allow manufacturers to replace costly high-performance materials with much more cost effective 4140 steel.”
“Manufacturers could save time and money if lower-cost materials like 4140 exhibited the enhanced mechanical properties of VAR 4340 or other similar alloys.
It motivated us to develop a family of processes that would overcome one of metallurgy’s general rules: As strength increases, ductility decreases. Our goal was to enhance both strength and ductility, and we developed treatments featuring both gas and oil quenches to do it.” ~ Paulo
Here is just a peek at the results:
Read more: “Enhanced Property Treatments: Ordinary Alloys Punch Above Their Weight”
