Tons of industries maximise tools and products that are made from metal parts and components. But before they can be processed further, they must all be subjected to heat treatment first.
Heat treatment is a process wherein the properties of the metal materials are strengthened and improved. This specific process is often conducted by putting them in various heating and cooling operations. Most of the time, heat treatment activities can easily relieve the stresses of the parts, allowing them to be machined or welded easily. Other changes that heat treatment activities can introduce to the materials are increased strength, wear resistance, and improved electric and magnetic properties.
Various metals can attain these qualities. One of these metals is aluminium.
Common Properties of Aluminium
Aluminium is known to be the most abundant metallic element on the planet, which makes it one of the most utilised nonferrous metals today.
As stated, this specific metallic element belongs to the classification of nonferrous metal, which means that it does not contain appreciable amounts of iron. This specific quality makes aluminium more resistant to rust and corrosion compared to ferrous metals. Aside from its respectable corrosion resistance, aluminium is also notable for its high ductility, valuable hardness, high malleability, excellent conductivity, and appealing looks.
To make aluminium more useful for industrial applications, it will often be mixed and combined with other elements. Some elements that can be added to aluminium are copper, magnesium, silicon, and zinc. The addition of elements further improves its strength, workability, corrosion resistance, and conductivity.
The Importance of Stress Relieving
One heat treatment activity that can be utilised in processing aluminium parts and products is stress-relieving. Stress-relieving is a heat treatment activity that subjects the aluminium to a constant temperature below its critical temperature. After the heating process, the aluminium parts or products will then be exposed to controlled cooling. Through stress relieving, any accumulated internal or residual stresses that they possess will be removed.
Internal or residual stresses often come from previous manufacturing processes. Without removing these stresses, the aluminium parts or products may deform, corrode, or experience fatigue.
Other types of stresses that this particular heat treatment activity deals with are structural stress and thermal stress. Structural stress is defined as the tensile strength of the material whenever it is under applied conditions or forces. Thermal stress, alternatively, develops whenever an extremely high temperature is present, which can lead to metal contraction or expansion.
Stress Relieving Aluminium Parts
Different operations can be conducted to ensure that aluminium parts can relieve unnecessary stresses.
One of these operations is annealing. During annealing, the aluminium materials will be exposed at a temperature of around 50% of their melting point. With annealing, their microstructures are expected to change, leading to the reduction of hardness, increase in ductility, and elimination of internal stresses.
Another operation that can relieve unnecessary stresses of aluminium parts is solution heat treatment. This operation is done by soaking the parts in a high-temperature solution before quenching them. Any dissolved elements will be trapped and precipitated out, leading to an age-hardening effect.
To know more about stress-relieving aluminium, you can call us at Alpha Detroit Heat Treatment.
Many heat treatment processes are designed to effectively heat metal materials without exposing them to melting temperatures before cooling them. The activities involved in these processes are intended to obtain certain mechanical properties of the materials. Some of the materials may become more malleable, while others may become stronger, more ductile, or more resistant to abrasion.
One heat treatment process that is popular to manufacturers today is the salt bath heat treatment.
Salt bath heat treatment is a process wherein treated parts or components will be immersed into a molten salt or salts mixture. What is great about this specific process is that it can provide a faster heating setup. It can likewise provide adequate control over the cooling conditions of the parts as well as low surface oxidation and decarburisation. Some applications associated with salt bath heat treatment are as follows:
Aerospace Industry
One of the most common applications associated with salt bath heat treatment involves the aerospace industry. Through salt bath heat treatment, various parts and components of aeroplanes can become resistant to fatigue. They can likewise become more durable against damaging elements present in the surroundings, especially at high speeds. Some aerospace parts that can take advantage of the salt bath heat treatment process are helicopter frame parts, aeroplane engine components, and many more.
Automotive Industry
Just like the aerospace industry, the automotive industry can likewise maximise the advantages present with salt bath heat treatment. The process of salt bath heat treatment does not only make parts resistant to fatigue, but it can also make them resistant to chemicals and high temperatures. Some of the most notable parts of vehicles that can take advantage of salt bath heat treatment are gears, axles, fasteners, camshafts, crankshafts, and other metal parts and components.
Electronics Industry
The parts needed for various machines and equipment pieces to run effectively must be made from materials that are durable, reliable, and long-lasting. Without these types of materials, they could easily reach the end of their service life and even risk dangers to the people using them. Heavy machines, in particular, are often made from parts out of iron, steel, titanium, nickel, copper, and aluminium. Through salt bath heat treatment, these materials can be processed so they can be strong and dependable.
The process of salt bath heat treatment and its associated benefits become possible thanks to its utilisation of a salt bath furnace. Through the addition of nitrates, nitrites, chlorides, carbonates, cyanide, and caustic soda, the process can ensure that parts and components will become wear-resistant, durable, and long-lasting. Salt bath heat treatment likewise ensures that the parts and components can be utilised again in other manufacturing steps, which cannot be done by other processes.
To know more about salt bath heat treatment, you can contact us at Alpha Detroit Heat Treatment. Our expertise allows us to suggest the most appropriate process for your heat treatment requirements.