Why Database for Cooling Capacity of Various Quenchants Should be Developed?

In the paper, a necessity of the development of database for cooling capacity of quenchants is discussed. In spite of the existence of several methods for solving an inverse heat conduction problem, appropriate experimental techniques and funding, there is no database containing cooling characteristics of quenchants needed for quench process computer simulations. Two reasons explain this situation. The heat treating industry uses mostly oils for quenching alloy steels for which it is not so critical to have the above database. A standard cylindrical Inconel 600 probe (12.5 mm dia) with the thermocouple installed at the core cannot be used for evaluating real heat transfer coefficients (HTC). This probe can be used for determining only effective HTC. Taking into account environmental issues, it is desirable to substitute, when it is possible, oil quenching with intensive water quenching. Development of the proper database of heat transfer characteristics for water based quenchants will accelerate this process.