A POLYVINYL ALCOHOL SOLUTION AS A QUENCHANT FOR THE HARDENING OF STEEL

Aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol were studied and compared with water and oil as quenchants using various diameter medium and high carbon steel rounds, and “C” shaped specimens made from high carbon steel. Four degrees of quenchant agitation were produced by the use of different quenching fixtures. It is shown that an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol in a concentration by weight of 0,15 percent has a cooling ability between that of water and oil. It was founds however, that polyvinyl alcohol solutions are more sensitive to a change in quenchant agitation than is water.