Altering the properties of a metal requires the application of heat, or removing heat using a quenching technique. Treating metal with heat, or cooling it after it is heated, can alter the following properties to various degrees: ductility, hardness, softness, stress, and tensile strength. To attain one or more of these properties, one or more of the following treatments may be used: annealing, tempering, hardening, quenching, normalizing, and stress relieving. An overview of every treatment is listed below:
Annealing
Annealing removes stresses or induces softness to boost ductility or formability, respectively. Common forms of annealing include:
Bright annealing- Bright annealing is conducted in a vacuum furnace, bell annealer, or controlled atmosphere furnace to avoid oxidation. It is typically performed on chromium alloys such as for example stainless steel.
Process annealing- Process annealing makes metal better to cold roll or draw. Additionally, it may make it more formable for bending applications.
Recovery annealing- Recovery annealing restores ductility and reduces stresses in cold worked metal.
Full annealing- Full annealing produces the softest, most stress-free metal. It really is typically performed to make metal better to machine, or to improve its dimensional stability.
Annealing occurs in a temperature range of 300�F - 2250�F.
Tempering
Tempering reduces stresses and unwanted hardness caused by quenching. It is often performed after quenching that follows brazing or annealing. The tempering process occurs in a temperature selection of 350�F - 1250�F.
Hardening
Hardening is a heating treating process that improves the mechanical properties and hardness of metals. It is typically performed in the form of "quenching." Common hardening methods include:
Water quenching- Water quenching improves the strength and hardness of low and medium carbon steel.
Oil quenching- Oil quenching improves the strength and hardness of medium and high carbon steel.
Air quenching- Air quenching improves the strength and hardness of low and medium carbon steel while reducing the chance of distortion.
Age hardening- Age hardening is performed on alloys that harden because of age or the presence of precipitation.
Hardening takes place in a temperature range of 300�F - 2250�F.
Normalizing
Look at this website is performed on ferrous metals to increase their mechanical properties, or even to improve their reaction to the hardening process. Normalizing occurs in a temperature selection of 1600�F - 1800�F.
Stress Relieving
Stress relieving relieves stresses in metal to improve dimensional stability and tensile strength. Common examples of stress inducers include: flame cutting, cold working, quenching, and welding fabrication. The strain relieving process takes place in a temperature selection of 300�F - 1400�F.
Conclusion
The list above is really a basic summary of heat treating processes offered by professional metal treatment services. Whenever a company needs to alter the properties of metal pieces or assemblies, having them treated with one of these processes can bring remarkable cost savings in comparison to buying new components. For additional information on the processes above and other metal working processes such as for example brazing, contact a metal treatment service today.