The Ideal Quenching Medium? – Characterisation of Ionic Liquids for Heat Treatment of Metallic Components

Abstract

Abstract Quenching as a part of heat treatment is an important process in the manufacturing chain of metallic components. One of the most common processes is immersion quenching in vaporising liquids. Unfortunately, this process is affected by the Leidenfrost-phenomenon. This effect can generate inhomogeneous quenching and thus asymmetrical residual stresses and avoidable distortion. In this work, ionic liquids have been investigated as new quenching media, which can be used as baths near room temperature. Aluminium cylinders have been quenched in baths of different ionic liquids with varying water contents and bath temperatures. The time-temperature curves have been recorded and the heat transfer coefficients were determined and compared to quenching in water. Addition of a few percents water to the ionic liquids increases the cooling rate significantly. Even at higher water contents, bubble boiling and convection are predominant and almost no Leidenfrost-effect occurs. This offers a huge potential to accelerate and homogenise immersion quenching.