Effect of Addition CuO Nanoparticle to Quenching Media on Properties of Medium Carbon Steel

Abstract

In current work the effect of addition CuO nanoparticles to the polyalkylene glycol (PAG) water solution quenching media on some properties of medium carbon steel was examined. Five cooling media was used to quenching the steel: water, 5 and 10 % water solution of polyalkylene glycol, and 5 and 10 % water solution of polyalkylene glycol with addition of 1% of CuO nanoparticles. In addition, in this study, the cooling curves for these media and the properties of tensile and affect for quenched and unquenched medium carbon steel were studied and evaluated. The results showed that the addition of CuO nanoparticles strongly improve the quenching media features and contribute to reduce water quenched sample defects (such as distortion and cracking), while at the same time still maintaining the desired mechanical property improvements. The experimental observations indicate that samples quenched 5% polyalkylene glycol water solution of with 1% CuO nanoparticles brought the best combination of mechanical properties.