The healing of quenched crack in 1045 steel under electropulsing

Specimens of 1045 steel with quenched crack were treated under electropulsing. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to examine the change of specimens before and after the treatment. The results showed that the crack can be healed under electropulsing without melting, and the healing could be produced within a very short time. The original microstructure of specimens was not changed during the healing. It is thought that the temperature and the transient thermal compressive stress caused by high-rate heating are the main factors causing the healing of the crack.