Design and Development of a Jominy End-Quench Apparatus

This study describes the design, fabrication, and testing of an end-quench apparatus for Jominy hardenability testing of steel according to ASTM A255-10 standards. This design aims to improve on previous designs which are heavy resulting in difficulty in mobility of the apparatus, inadequate water circulation, less compact of the entire system and unreliable power supply. This apparatus design incorporates a quenching chamber, frame, reservoir, drainage tanks, quenchant channel, pump, and battery. Material selection prioritized performance and cost-effectiveness. Each component was built to standard specifications, assembled, and painted for corrosion resistance. Testing employed a Leeb testing machine and three identical steel specimens quenched with water, 3.5% brine, and 5% brine. Hardness measurements were taken at designated distances from the quenched ends. The specimen quenched with 3.5% brine exhibited the highest hardenability, with hardness values decreasing with depth for all specimens. The apparatus achieved an estimated efficiency of 77.5%. Notably, the design incorporates a DC power source to mitigate potential disruptions during quenching caused by power failures.