What is meant by the term 'hardenability'?

Answer The term 'hardenability' is a term that is used to described a steels ability to harden. It does not mean 'what hardness can be achieved.' Hardenability is usually determined by the Jominy End quench test. The method involves maching a pice of steel to specific dimensions, heating the steel to its appropriate austenitizing temperature, followed by spraying a volume of water onto the end face of the bar. The effect will be for the face to cool rapidly and then to cool slower and at a progresive rate along the length of the bar. The bar is marked off at 1/16th inch internvals. After the test is complete, then the bar is hardness tested every 1/16 inch and a curve is plotted. This is the steels ability to respond to a specific heat treat procedure in terms of hardness values across its cross section. In other words it will show the depth of hardening across an equivelent diameter bar of steel. The addition of alloying elements will affect the steels'hardenability'