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Polymer quenchants?

G

gammarad

Joined
Jun 15, 2015
Messages
74
The literature frequently mentions polymer quenchants as an intermediate in cooling speed between water/brine and oils. This description makes them sound as perfect candidates for steels pushing the limit on the use of oil, like 1095.

In the context of knifemaking, however, they're seldom mentioned. I'm sure there're good reasons for that... but what are they?
 
I looked into polymer quenchants over 10 years ago when I started messin with hamon stuff. What I got was it's too high maintenance for me. Ya have to constantly check the water content and add water as it evaporates. It does work very well, but so does Parks 50 for shallow hardening steels.
 
Some of the guys in Europe have used those, but when asked why, the answer that I typically got was that they couldn't find a very fast oil like #50.
 
Ok, so maintenance seems a point, as you have to replenish water from evaporation and a smaller (and difficult to assess) amount of polymer due to drag out.

Any other experiences?
 
I have a pail of polymer quenchant coming now. The technology has come a long way in the past 5-10 years.

What I'm buying is a concentrate that allows one to adjust quenching speed based on concentration - I can make it as fast as brine or as slow as a slow-speed oil. That ability, along with the zero fire risk, make the decision seem like a no-brainer.

After discussing my needs with the folks at Houghton, I'm going with the #3699 formula http://www.houghtonheattreat.com/product/quenchants/aqua-quench-3699

Also it should be said that oils need maintenance too. This is well-documented in the Heatbath literature for Parks 50, and I experienced it firsthand with this oil.
 
Keep us posted when it comes. I have looked at it in the past and felt it gained nothing over what I used, so I never tried it.
 
Brief reading makes it sound like they're quite similar to synthetic machining fluids. Polyalkylene glycol with various additives. I have a 5 gallon pail of concentrate I got as a sample for machining and it never crossed my mind to try it as a quenchant by varying the water content. But I think I will try it.
 
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