Developing of Mechanical Properties for Reinforcing Bar Steel through Heat Treating with Various Cooling Media

Abstract

In this study, mechanical properties development of reinforcing bar steel (rebar) has examined through heat treatment process. This rebar was made from low carbon lateritic steel with the small amount of alloying elements Cr,Mn and Ni. There were 4 rebar steel samples that consisted of rebar steel was applied hot rolled at 1200 °C at the beginning process in factory (sample A) and three others were conducted by quenching (sample B, C and D). The various of cooling media such as water (sample B), oil (sample C) and air (sample D) have applied to obtain different microstructure behavior and also mechanical properties. Initial heating was conducted to B,C and D rebar specimens at the austenitizing temperature (950 °C) for 1 h and followed by quenching. The experimental results showed that water quench exhibited of higher hardness level (50,26 HRC) for rebar steel but decreasing in toughness (34 Joule) and elongation (4%) than as cast because of martensite phase formed. Sample C showed that martensite and the small amount of retained austenite with hardness and tensile strength below the sample B, but elongation and energy absorbed were above. The lowest of hardness and tensile strength were obtained from sample D. It was appropriate with microstructuree formed as follows ferrite-pearlite phase and widmanstatten-bainite cluster. Nevertheless, sample D is suitable treatment for tensile strength and elongation requirements rebar standard, there are 558 Mpa and 26% respectively (min. 440 MPa and 20%).