Normalizing process for steels is defined as heating the steel to austenite phase and cooling it in the air. It is carried out by heating the steel approximately 50 deg C above the upper critical temperature (AC? for hypoeutectoid steels or Acm in case of hypereutectoid steels, Fig 1) followed by cooling in air to room temperature, or at no greater than 1 bar pressure using nitrogen if the process is being run in a vacuum furnace. Normalizing temperatures usually vary from 810 deg C to 930 deg C. After reaching the soaking temperature the steel is held at that temperature for soaking. The soaking time depends on the thickness of the work piece and the steel composition. Higher temperatures and longer soaking times are required for alloy steels and larger cross sections.