This chapter highlights the fact that every steel casting should be heat
treated. The structure of cast steel in as-cast conditions requires changes – this applies
to virtually all types of cast steel grades. As a result of heating and cooling (according
to various technological options), beneficial changes in mechanical and also other
properties (e.g. hardness, corrosion resistance and wear resistance) are obtained. This
chapter includes the types of heat treatment of cast steel, possible practical effects after
each treatment and the structural changes caused during its course. There are examples
of the microstructure in as-cast conditions, after quenching and after tempering at
various temperatures.
Keywords: Hardness, Mechanical properties, Normalisation, Quenching, Tempering,
Type of the heat treatment.
