This book is intended both as a resource for engineers and as an introduction to the layman about our most important metal system. After an introduction that deals with the history and refining of iron and steel, the rest of the book examines their physical properties and metallurgy. To elaborate on the importance of iron and steel, we can refer to the fact that modern civilization as we know it would not be possible without it. Steel is essential in the machinery necessary for manufacturing that meets our needs. Even the words themselves have come to suggest strength. Phrases such as 'iron willed', 'iron fisted', 'iron clad', 'iron curtain' and 'pumping iron' imply strength. A 'steely glance' is a stern look. 'A heart of steel' refers to a very hard demeanor. The Russian dictator, Stalin (which means steel in Russian), chose the name to invoke fear in those under him.

One of two self-contained volumes belonging to the newly revised Steel Heat Treatment Handbook, Second Edition, this book examines the behavior and processes involved in modern steel heat treatment applications. Steel Heat Treatment: Metallurgy and Technologies presents the principles that form the basis of heat treatment processes while incorporating detailed descriptions of advances emerging since the 1997 publication of the first edition. Revised, updated, and expanded, this book ensures up-to-date and thorough discussions of how specific heat treatment processes and different alloy elements affect the structure and the classification and mechanisms of steel transformation, distortion of properties of steel alloys. The book includes entirely new chapters on heat-treated components, and the treatment of tool steels, stainless steels, and powder metallurgy steel components. Steel Heat Treatment: Metallurgy and Technologies provides a focused resource for everyday use by advanced students and practitioners in metallurgy, process design, heat treatment, and mechanical and materials engineering.

The semiaustenitic precipitation-hardenable stainless steels remain austenitic on cooling rom a solution heat treatment at about 1950 F. In this form they are readily fabricable. Subsequent treatment at about 1400 or at about 1725 F depletes the austenite of Cr and C to the extent that martensite forms on cooling to room temperature or -100 F, respectively. Final hardening is effected by tempering, or aging, at 750 to 1100 F. The semiaustenitic precipitation-hardenable stainless steels may be obtained as transformed at the mill by cold rolling. In this condition they lack the good formability of solution-heat-treated material. However, the fabricator need only temper them to obtain very high strengths. These steels have a combination of good formability, high strength, and excellent corrosion resistance that is not easily matched by other materials.

Various aspects of the physical metallurgy of the 18 % nickel maraging steels are discussed in this report in the light of the knowledge which has thus far been accumulated on these steels. The 18 % nickel type of maraging steel was singled out for discussion because of its especially attractive combination of strength and fracture toughness, the comparative simplicity with which it can be hardened, and the relative ease with which it can be formed and joined. The highnickel maraging steels are considered to be outstanding members of a loose-knit family of agehardenable or precipitation-hardenable martensitic steels. Some comparisons and analogies are drawn among various members of this family with particular reference to the 18% nickel steels. (Author).

THIS REPORT IS MAINLY CONCERNED WITH FORGINGS MADE FROM MARTENSITIC STEELS HEAT TREATED TO STRENGTHS RANGING FROM 240,000 TO 300,000 PSI. FORGING CHARACTERISTICS, DESIGN LIMITATIONS, DIMENSIONAL TOLERANCES, AND QUALITY-CONTROL PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DATA ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES IS ALSO PRESENTED. IN ADDITION, THE REPORT SUMMARIZES THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON FORGED, SEMIAUSTENITIAL STEELS. THIS COMPILATION IS BASED ON PUBLISHED ARTICLES, GOVERNMENT REPORTS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH PRODUCERS AND USERS OF STEEL FORGINGS.