This work studied the effect of fast austenitization on the mechanical properties of SAE1045 steel, as quenched and tempered. The samples austenitized at 900 and 950ºC, and immediately quenched after reaching these temperatures, showed microstructures of refined martensite, with small volume fractions of polygonal and acicular ferrites. The values of the tensile and yield strengths of the tempered samples are strongly dependent on the soaking time. The phase transformations during the tempering have similar effects on the tensile and yield strengths of the tempered samples. These samples have high yield ratio values (average of 0.91). The values of the product of the tensile strength for the percent elongation varied from 32589MPa% to 24150MPa%. The optimization of the mechanical properties of the SAE1045 steel, with high strength and ductility, was achieved for the austenitization at 900ºC, immediately quenched after reaching that temperature, and tempering at 600ºC for 100s.
SAE1045 steel; fast austenitization; quenched and tempered; mechanical properties
