quench cracking
Quench Cracking or metal cracks caused by rapid cooling during quenching-happens when the internal pressures exceed the strength of the metal. This defect can very well compromise the structural integrity of the metal.
Key Features:
- Stress of Rapid Cooling: Since uneven shrinkage induces internal stress, quick cooling also produces stress within the material.
- Material Susceptibility: Quench cracking is prominent in high-carbon steels and those metals having brittle nature.
- Crack Prevention: Appropriate selection of the quenching medium and controlled rates of cooling tend to minimize the crack generation process.
Understanding the effects of rapid cooling in metal heat treatments forms the core of Quench Cracking. Critical to aerospace, automotive, and tool-making industries, advances in methods of quenching and selecting materials may help in reducing quench cracking in metal parts.