Abstract

The paper considers a mechanism of the elimination of the film boiling process during intensive quenching (IQ) of steel parts in water polymer solutions of low concentration. The use of the IQ process results in improvement of material mechanical properties and steel part performance characteristics. Evaluation of ways of eliminating of the film boiling process using a modern physics point of view allows significant improvement of the IQ equipment making it less costly and more efficient. All of this cardinally simplifies the implementation of the IQ technology in heat treat practice. The paper shows how creation of a thin insulating surface layer during quenching of steel parts in low concentration of inverse solubility polymers results in eliminating of film boiling processes that makes the quench process intensive. Historically in heat treating industry, an effective heat transfer coefficient was widely used for evaluating of the nucleate boiling process. And quenching during the nucleate boiling mode of heat transfer was considered as slow cooling. That is why powerful quenching systems were recommended for performing IQ processes. It is shown that the absence of the film boiling process makes quenching intensive. Quenching parts made of optimal hardenability steel under such condition results in the development of high surface compressive residual stresses and in material super-strengthening that, in turn, increases a quality and service life of steel parts. The paper can be useful for engineers, scientists and college students.