Abstract
The cooling curves at the center and surface of silver and steel specimens with various diameters, quenched into various quenchants, were measured and examined. The effects of size, shape, thermal properties and measuring position were discussed. A curve showing only the cooling characteristics of quenchants independent of size, shape or material of specimen was introduced, which will hereafter be referred to as the “master cooling curve”. The curve was valid regardless of whether the specimens obeyed Newton’s law of cooling. The concept of the master cooling curve is widely applicable to the quantative determination of steel hardening.
