A Novel Heat Treatment for Excavator Dipper Teeth Manufactured from Low-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel

This research examined the metallurgy of production of forged excavator teeth manufactured from low-carbon low alloy steel. A novel partial forging-remnant-heat hardening technology was proposed. The critical temperature of isothermal annealing for 40 Cr steel was determined experimentally to be 650 degrees C. Production dipper teeth were produced using this novel technology. Their properties were compared with dipper teeth produced by the alternative routes. The novel technology provided optimum microstructure, good mechanical properties, and a lower economical cost, congruent with the low carbon economy.