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IQ Technologies Inc (IQT) of Akron, Ohio, conducted extensive experimental and computational studies to demonstrate the benefits of intensive water quenching techniques for steel parts developed by Dr. Kobasko of the Ukraine. Two intensive quenching methods were applied: “direct convection cooling” (IQ-3 technique) and nucleate boiling (IQ-2 technique). Experiments and calculations were performed for a variety of steel products including automotive parts (coil springs, kingpins, torsion bars, bearing products, etc.), fasteners of different types including automotive bolts, tool products (punches, dies, die-casting machine parts, etc.). Experiments were conducted in 500-gallon experimental intensive quenching systems installed at Akron Steel Treating Co.'s facilities and in the 6000-gallon full-scale intensive quenching system installed at Summit Heat Treating Co.'s facilities.

Intensive quenching, known as IntensiQuenchSM, is an alternative way of hardening steel parts developed by Dr. Kobasko of the Ukraine. It provides steel products with superior mechanical properties, creates high residual compressive stresses on the part surface, allows the use of lower alloy steels; reduces or eliminates the need for carburization and shot peening; and makes the quenching process more cost-effective. In addition, IntensiQuenchSM is clean and environmentally friendly method since it uses plain water or water with a low concentration of salt as the quenchant (in contrast to traditional heat treatment practices that use usually hazardous, environmentally unfriendly quench oil). In this paper, we discuss major principles of intensive quenching phenomenon: mechanism of the formation of residual surface compressive stresses, optimum hardened depth, peculiarity of the formed martensite.