How Do I Harden 12L14 Steel?

*Hardening:

Although these grades will respond to conventional treatments, they are not considered case-hardening steels. Better results can be obtained from 1117 or 1018.

*BATCH CARBONITRIDING

Input Blend Input Micro-Hardness

(Vol. %) CH.sub.4 / (As Quenched)

Material

Test

N.sub.2

CH.sub.4

CO.sub.2

NH.sub.3

CO.sub.2

Thermal Treatment

Surface

Core Treated

a) 100

-- -- -- -- a) Heat to 1600.degree. F

AISI 12L14

b) 76.8

14.3

3.1

5.8

4.50

b) Heat 12 min. at 1600.degree. F

61 (R.sub.c)

41 (R.sub.c)

Steel

c) 88.0

7.4

1.7

2.9

4.50

c) Heat 30 min. at 1600.degree. F

Ball Stud

and oil quench

3. a) 100

-- -- -- -- a) Heat to 1600.degree. F

60 (R.sub.c)

42 (R.sub.c)

AISI 12L14

b) 75.6

16.7

2.0

5.7

8.15

b) Heat at 1600.degree. F 12 min.

Steel

c) 87.4

8.1

1.6

2.9

5.00

c) Heat at 1600.degree. F 40 min.

Ball Stud

and oil quench.

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AISI 12L14 :

Category :Steel

Class :Carbon steel

Type :Standard resulfurized and rephosphorized

Common Names :Lead steel

Designations:

Germany: DIN 1.0718

Italy: UNI 9 SMnPb 23

Japan: JIS SUM 22 L , JIS SUM 24 L

Sweden: SS 1914

United States: ASTM A108 , ASTM A29 , SAE J403 , SAE J412 , SAE J414 , UNS G12144

Composition :

Element / Weight %

C / 0.15 (max)

Mn / 0.85-1.15

P / 0.04-0.09

S / 0.26-0.35

Pb / 0.15-0.35

Mechanical Properties :

Properties / Conditions / T (°C) /Treatment

Density (×1000 kg/m3) 7.7-8.03 / 25

Poisson's Ratio 0.27-0.30 /25

Elastic Modulus (GPa) 190-210 / 25

Tensile Strength (Mpa) 540 / 25 /cold drawn (round bar (19-38 mm))

Yield Strength (Mpa) /415

Elongation (%) /10

Reduction in Area (%) /35

Hardness (HB) 163 /25 /cold drawn (round bar (19-38 mm))

*Rod- 12L14 Case Hardened to Rockwell C 58-62 Case Depth .060 Sleeve - 12L14 Case Hardened to Rockwell C 58-62 Case Depth .060 Blade - 12L14 Case Hardened to Rockwell C 58-62 Case Depth .030 Quantity 5000 Rods: Weight per piece .8 ounce (Total 250 pounds) 5000 Sleeves: Weight per piece 1.8 ounce (Total 563 Pounds) 5000 Blades: Weight per piece .3 ounce (94 pounds) Total weight of RFQ 907 pounds 12L14 Steel.

An oxy would really be preferable, but a propane may do, I'm not sure you'll get an adequate temperature.

They only way is to place the parts upon a clay brick or something simmilar, this will help the steel to hold it's heat, heat until cherry red. It must be vissibly red throughout the whole part at the same time and dumped immediately into cold water.

If it's not completely cherry red, proper hardening will not occur and weak spots will be present. good luck

Hardening steel is done by quenching. Quenching is accomplished by heating the element and then rapidly cooling it. In metallurgy, it is most commonly used to harden steel by introducing martensite, in which case the steel must be rapidly cooled through its eutectoid point. For 12L14 steel, the eutectoid point is approximately 2800 degrees F.

Unfortunately, a propane torch has the capacity to reach tempuratures up to 1995 degrees... 12L14 is rather difficult to harden even with the correct tools. Good luck!

I think 12L14 is NOT heat hardenable, because it is low-carbon. You may try heating and quenching it, but it won't harden much.

It can be hardened by cold-working - drawing or rolling processes. However, these are usually done by the material manufactures, and most machine shops do not have the capability to do this in house.

Can you try 1144 steel instead? 1144 is medium-carbon (0.44%), and heat treatable. It is also "free machining" grade like 12L14. Other medium carbon steels are also heat hardenable: 1040, 1050, etc.

12l14 Steel

12L14 can be gas carburized or case hardened with Kasenit, bone charcoal, or other carburizing compound. And that does not require anything approaching 2800 deg F. More like 1650 deg F. It does not seem to penetrate too deeply.