The Jominy end-quench test is used to determine what property of steel?

• A. Hardness
• B. Recrystallization temperature
• C. Hardenability
• D. Glass transition temperature

Answer: (C)

The Jominy end-quench test is specifically designed to measure the hardenability of steel. Hardenability refers to the ability of a steel alloy to be hardened through the process of quenching, which is the rapid cooling of the material from high temperatures.

In this test, a cylindrical steel specimen is heated to austenitizing temperature and then quenched at one end with water. This creates a temperature gradient along the length of the specimen. After quenching, a hardness test is performed at various distances from the quenched end. The results show how the hardness decreases with distance from the quenched end, providing valuable information on the steel's hardenability. A high hardenability means the material can be hardened deeper into the part, which is crucial for many engineering applications that require toughness and wear resistance.

Thus, the Jominy end-quench test is a standardized method to assess how different alloying elements within the steel affect its hardenability, which is essential for determining the appropriate heat treatment processes for specific applications.