Inferring Strength in Heat Treated 52100 Steel Using Instrumented Indentation Plastometry

Through‑hardening bearing steels are commonly evaluated using hardness as a proxy for strength behavior. In this work we investigate whether instrumented indentation plastometry can provide additional insight into strength trends in 52100 steel produced by systematic changes in heat treatment. Jominy end‑quenched specimens with varied austenitization temperatures and temper conditions were characterized by hardness and plastometry. Metallography and dilatometry evaluation complement these results and provide context for the observed hardness and inferred strength values. All characterization methods helped confirm the hypothesized microstructural and property changes. It was observed that plastometry testing, in providing both hardness and inferred strength values in a single test, provides a more nuanced view of the underlying microstructure and material behavior than can be identified with hardness alone.