An Experimental Study on the Mechanical Characteristics of Low Alloy Carbon Steels for Better Performance of Traditional Farm Implements in Ethiopia

For most developing countries, including Ethiopia Agriculture is the backbone of their economy. Due to lack of effective farm implements, theses country’s population has been suffering on food shortage. Hence, the major objective the study is to improve the mechanical properties and abrasion resistance of traditional farm implements. To achieve the intended objectives of the study, Investigation was conducted on the mechanical and wear characteristics of steel samples for better performance of farm implements subjected to packed carburization treatment using wood coal as the carburizer, carburized at 850 °C, 900 °C and 950 °C, soaked at the carburizing temperature for 1:50 hrs followed by quenched with water. At the first the test specimen for analysis of different mechanical and wear characteristics of various local farming tools like abrasive wear, toughness, tensile strength, abrasive wear and hardness were prepared as per ASTM standard. The test specimens that was prepared for this purpose was subjected to destructive mechanical test before and after carburization process. From the data obtained, ultimate tensile strength, percent elongation, percent reduction in area, modulus of elasticity, Rockwell hardness, impact toughness, and abrasive wear were calculated. The destructive mechanical test results are compared before and after carburization process in order to see the impact of pack carburization and carburizing temperature on the performance (life cycle )of the traditional farm implements. It was observed that the mechanical properties of steel samples were found to be strongly influenced by the process of carburization, carburizing temperature and soaking time at carburizing temperature. It was concluded that the sample carburized at 950 °C soaked for 1:50 hrs followed by water quenching gives best result than the other samples. Since pack carburizing enhance the hardness, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, the farm implement manufacturing company has been recommended to carburize these farm implement.