Is High Hardenability Desirable?
Not if the steel is to be welded
- the cooling rates into the bulk next to the weld are high enough to form martensite if the material transforms to austenite during welding
- only useful if the steel is to be hardened as the last stage in manufacture
Not if cost is important
- alloying elements increase steel cost
Yes for complex-shaped components
- susceptible to cracking on quenching due to differential cooling rates