Development of Restricted Hardenability Band Steels

Modern steelmaking practices enable closer control of chemical composition and hardenability, and some manufacturers are already specifying narrow hardenability limits. This paper reviews a recent activity of SAE Division 8, Carbon and Alloy Steel Hardenability, that developed restricted hardenability bands for a series of steels. The paper summarizes the need for restricted hardenability limits and the methods used to develop the new bands for the proposed SAE Standard J1868.