Investigation of morphological and mechanical properties of hardened and tempered AISI 4340 steel

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Subhan Ali
Abdul Qadeer Laghari
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4738-0077
Arshad Iqbal
Ghulam Mustafa Memon
Masroor Abro
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8462-2779
Iftikhar Ahmed Memon
Fida Hussain Channa
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2722-0197
Abdul Sami Channa
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6663-7261
Khan Muhammad
Shoukat Ali Noonari
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1264-0813

Abstract

AISI 4340 steel is widely used in risk-intensive industries due to its excellent mechanical strength and impact resistance. The mechanical properties of AISI 4340 steel can be significantly enhanced through heat treatment, par­ticularly tempering at controlled temperatures. This study investigates the effect of tempering on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI 4340 steel. The experimental analysis includes characterization before and after heat treatment to assess changes in strength, toughness and ductility. The results demonstrate that tempering at 450 °C for 45 min provides the optimum balance of impact energy and ductility while slightly reducing hardness and strength. Conversely, tempering at 550 °C results in a more pronounced increase in impact energy and ductility, but at the cost of a greater reduction in hardness and strength. Micro­structural examination confirms the formation of tempered martensite, contri­buting to the observed mechanical behaviour. The findings provide valuable insights into optimizing heat treatment parameters for AISI 4340 steel to achieve a balanced combination of strength, toughness, and ductility for industrial applic­ations.

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How to Cite
[1]
S. Ali, “Investigation of morphological and mechanical properties of hardened and tempered AISI 4340 steel”, J. Serb. Chem. Soc., Jun. 2026.
Section
Metallic Materials and Metallurgy

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