GATE ME 2019 Set 2 — Question 24

MCQ+1 / -0.33EasyAnnealing, Normalizing & HardeningHeat TreatmentEngineering Materials

Engineering Materials → Heat Treatment → Annealing, Normalizing & Hardening

Last updated 5 September 2026

Question

Hardenability of steel is a measure of

Correct answer (C) the depth to which required hardening is obtained when it is austenitized and then quenched Solution Hardenability is a material property that describes the ease with which a steel can be hardened by the formation of martensite. It is specifically defined as the depth to which a specific hardness level is achieved in a specimen after it has been austenitized and then quenched under standardized conditions (e.g., the Jominy end-quench test). It should not be confused with 'hardness', which is a surface property. Turn this into a strength. Explore AI-powered practice and doubt support with Success Tracker.

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Correct answer (C) the depth to which required hardening is obtained when it is austenitized and then quenched Solution Hardenability is a material property that describes the ease with which a steel can be hardened by the formation of martensite. It is specifically defined as the depth to which a specific hardness level is achieved in a specimen after it has been austenitized and then quenched under standardized conditions (e.g., the Jominy end-quench test). It should not be confused with 'hardness', which is a surface property.

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