QT steel plate

Product Description

Quenched and tempered" (Q&T) is a heat treatment process commonly applied to steel to enhance its mechanical properties, including hardness, strength, and toughness. Here's how the process typically works:

Quenching: The steel is heated to a high temperature (above the critical temperature, known as the austenitizing temperature) and then rapidly cooled by immersing it in a quenching medium such as oil, water, or polymer. This rapid cooling "freezes" the steel's microstructure in a supersaturated state, transforming it from austenite to a harder phase, usually martensite.

Tempering: After quenching, the steel is relatively brittle due to its high hardness. To improve its toughness and relieve internal stresses, the steel is then reheated to a lower temperature (below the austenitizing temperature) and held for a specific time period. This process, known as tempering, allows the martensite to undergo a controlled transformation, resulting in a more stable microstructure with improved ductility and toughness.