Quench and tempering steels

Several of our hardenable steels are specifically designed for quenching and tempering. A subsequent tempering is usually required to give the steel the desired ratio between hardness and toughness. This is called quenching and tempering and means that a steel is hardened by quenching in water or oil at a temperature around 900 ° C. This is followed by an annealing that anneals the hard Martensite to a more impact-resistant and fine-grained Bainite structure. Quench and tempering steel is characterized by two things:

• High strength
  Good formability

If the steel then needs to be thermoformed, the steel must be quenched and tempered again to regain the mechanical properties. Quench and tempering steel is normally delivered in quenched and tempered condition, QT. It is normally possible to process machining and cutting in QT condition.