A statistically designed experimental study has been conducted using the Center of Heat Treating Excellence probe quenching system to determine the effects of bath temperature, initial probe temperature, polymer bath concentration, and quenchant agitation level on the cooling rates and heat transfer coefficients for aqueous solutions of Aqua-Quench 251 polymer quenchant. Aluminum alloy 2024 was used throughout the study. It was found that polymer concentration had the most significant effect on cooling and heat transfer coefficient of the four variables studied. As the polymer concentration was increased in the bath, the cooling rate decreased. However, the analysis also showed for the ranges of variation studied that bath temperature, initial probe temperature, and agitation level had insignificant effects on cooling rates. A Taguchi analysis of the experimental results agreed with these comparative results.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Bradshaw, Kyle Douglas
• Costesso, Luke Dario
• Holmes, Brett Coughlin

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 03C031M

Advisor

• DiBiasio, David
• Sisson, Richard D.

Year

• 2003

Date created

• 2003-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright