Elimination of Quench Cracking by Controlling Agitation Uniformity

Uniform agitation of the quenchant is a critically important control parameter in optimizing distortion control and reducing steel cracking. Quenching with ultrasonic agitation or in the presence of electrical and magnetic fields provide uniform agitation leading to improved uniformity of the stress fields within the metal not readily achievable with more traditional agitation methods such as propeller pumps and sprays. These methods provide the additional potential advantage of varying agitation throughout the cooling cycle to achieve a wide range of cooling profiles not readily achievable with quenchants and more traditional agitation systems currently in use.