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JOMINY END QUENCH TEST

Prepared by

Purnendu Sarkar
Intern at Q.A Dept.
Arora Iron & Steel Rolling Mill (P) Ltd, Ludhiana, Punjab
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The Jominy end quench test is used to measure the hardenability of a steel, which is a
measure of the capacity of the steel to harden in depth under a given set of conditions. It
considers the basic concepts of hardenability and the Jominy test.

Hardenability is the ability of a steel to partially or completely transform from

austenite to some fraction of martensite at a given depth below the surface, when
cooled under a given condition.
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Process Flow Diagram

1 Extraction of specimen
Sample cut from hot rolled bar during or after rolling.

Forging 2
• Up to 50 mm dia or RCS sample is normalized after cutting.
• Greater than 50 dia or RCS is forged after cutting.
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3 Normalizing
After cutting normalising of sample is done according to its grade.

Machining 4
After normalizing, machining of sample is done.
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5 Heating
The test specimen must be heated uniformly and held at the
specified temperature for at least 30 minutes, with the duration
potentially adjusted based on furnace type and past experience to
ensure the center reaches the desired temperature.

Quenching
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After machining, quenching of sample is done. Time
between removal of test piece from the furnace and the
commencement of spraying is not exceeds from 05
seconds.
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Grinding & Marking 7

After quenching, grinding of sample is done.
After grinding, marking of sample 1s done according to
customer's requirement.

8 Testing
After marking of sample, calibration of machine is done by testing
the standard test block.
After testing of standard test block final testing of sample is done
on Rockwell hardness tester machine.
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EXTRACTION OF SPECIMEN
Hardness

The sample will be cut from a hot rolled bar during or after rolling.

51 mm Hardness
Location

Hardness

31 to 51 mm

For sample with diameter 31 to 51 mm, we take sample from the centre and
for diameter greater than 51 mm, sample is taken at a R/2 distance as
shown in the figure.
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FORGING
Forging is crucial for achieving uniformity in the material's microstructure. It aligns the
material's molecular orientation, and reduces internal stresses, ensuring more accurate and
reliable results during the subsequent cooling process.
The procedure involves heating the sample to a specified temperature, followed by
controlled deformation through forging to shape it into the desired form. This pre-treatment
enhances the material's homogeneity, facilitating more precise evaluation of its hardenability
during the test.
• Up to 50 mm dia or RCS sample is normalized after cutting.
• Greater than 50 dia or RCS is forged after cutting.

Forged specimen
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NORMALIZING
After cutting normalizing of sample is done according to its grade,
• For low carbon and low carbon alloy steel sample normalizing is done at 925 °C.
• For medium carbon and medium carbon alloy steel sample normalizing is done at
870 °C .
The holding time at normalizing temperature shall be between 30 and 60 min.

Normalized Sample
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MACHINING 32 mm

3 mm
Machine the test piece by grinding or polishing using a smooth file or emery paper.
Ensure the end surface of the test piece to be hardened has a reasonably fine finish.
Sample will be machined to the following specifications as per IS:3848
Diameter: 25 mm ± 0.5-0.1 mm.

100 mm
Length: 100 mm ± 0.5 mm.
Collar diameter: 32 mm ± 0.5 mm
Collar thickness: 3 mm

25 mm

Machined specimen
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HEATING
• Heat the test piece evenly and keep it at the required temperature for at least 30 minutes.
• The heating time may vary based on the type of furnace used, determined by past experience, to make sure the middle of the piece gets to the
right temperature. Use a thermocouple in a drilled hole to check this temperature.
• Take steps to prevent the test piece from decarburization, carburization, or getting too oxidized.
• Sample is placed in a mild steel vessel. The bottom of this vessel is covered either with a graphite plate or with a cast iron shot on which the
test piece shall rest.
Mild steel vessel
Mild steel

Cast Iron Shots

Test specimen

Sample in Muffle furnace Specimen holding mild steel Vessel

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Quenching or hardening is the most vital step as it’s the basic step for hardening the specimen,
• The hardening apparatus consists of a fixture for securing and centering the test piece vertically above a water jet.
• The water pipe must include a quick action tap and a mechanism for adjusting water flow rate.
• The length of the water supply pipe behind the tap should be at least 50 mm to ensure smooth water flow.
• The apparatus may include a disc for rapid opening and closing of the water jet.

• The distance between the end of the water supply pipe and the face of the test piece should be
12.5 ± 0.5 mm.
• The height of the water jet above the end pipe without the test piece (free-jet height) sample
in position shall be 65 ± 10 mm.
• Ensure the hardening device is protected from drafts and the water temperature in the pipe is
between 5°C and 30°C.
• The time between removing the test piece from the furnace and beginning spraying should not
exceed 5 seconds.
• Open the water supply tap as soon as the test piece is fixed in position, and spray the piece for at
least 10 minutes before completing cooling by immersing it in cold water.
• Diameter of the Umbrella should be 210mm. Water jet

Jominy Quenching Operation

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GRINDING & MARKING
After quenching, grinding of sample is done grinding of sample is done on its opposite faces to a depth of 0.4 to 0.5 mm.
After grinding, marking of sample is done according to customer's requirement.
Height gauge is used to mark the sample at different depth at which hardness value will be found.

Height gauge

Specimen after grinding

Sample

Grinding Machine Marking

Specimen after Marking

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TESTING
• Two flats for hardness measurement, 180° apart and parallel to the test piece axis, must be ground along its entire length.
• Flats should be at the same depth, 0.4 to 0.5 mm, ground with coolant to prevent microstructure modification.
• Test piece is immersed in nitric acid solution until blackened, then in hydrochloric acid solution
to check for uniformity.
• If soft spots are found, new flats are prepared and tested. Rockwell hardness measurements are
taken.
• Burrs from first measurement are removed before measuring hardness on the second flat.
• Measurement points are spaced according to specified distances from the hardened end at 16
depths viz 1/16, 2/16, 3/16 & so on up to 16/16.
• The device for moving the test piece on the hardness machine ensures accurate centralization of
flats and indentations.
• Hardness may be determined at specified distances from the hardened end, with measurements Sample

taken on each of the two flats.

• If values on opposite faces vary widely, two more surfaces 90° apart are ground, and the average
of the three values is taken.
Testing on Rockwell Hardness Tester
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Raw-prepared Sample Harden Jominy Sample Tested Sample

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THANK YOU