Heat treated metals are undeniably hard and rigid. Still, their dimensional parameters can and often do change when their microcrystalline matrices are exposed to massive quantities of thermal energy. The...
Transforming metal workpieces with intense levels of thermal energy, heat treatment processing manipulates microstructure compositions until a desired mechanical or physical property is achieved. However, even the finest operation can...
Modern alloys are among the toughest materials known to man. A selected alloy, perhaps destined to become a key part in a massive construction project, can handle massive loads, yet...
Quenching is an essential stage in heat treatment technology. The rapid cooling of a hot workpiece stops unacceptable low-temperature processes, including the microcrystalline alterations that would otherwise compromise the procedure....
There’s nothing simple about heat treatment technology. Even the various microcrystalline forms of steel make the process hard to regulate. Among these forms, martensitic stainless steel ranks as a super-hard...
Counterintuitive consequences have been known to compromise heat treatment work. By way of illustration, steel strengthening operations should logically produce strong workpieces. However, there are times when these mathematically predictable...
While medium carbon steel clearly isn’t as hard as a high-carbon alloy, those lenient mechanical qualities can be enriched. By exposing the steel to flame hardening equipment, a heat treatment...
Much has been covered in past posts. The basics of heat treatment technology formed a foundation, then that groundwork received new and interesting additional levels. They dealt with surface hardening...
Black oxide is a pleasing surface conversion coating. As stated in past articles, the process dresses steel and other select alloys with a corrosion resistant skin. Although mild in nature,...
This post will address the gas nitriding process and its effects on steel. Essentially, we’ll be looking at a heat treatment technique that addresses alloy hardening concerns and the need...
Process economy is an ideal we chase in heat treatment technology. Masses of fuel and heat are devoured during a hard day’s work inside this manufacturing environment. How does the...
To some extent, worked alloys have memory. Stress can be absorbed and stored in the metal. Under these circumstances, heat treatment facilities call upon the services of a stress relieving...
On one side of this comparative guide, induction hardening technology employs a strong electromagnetic field as the heat treatment engine. On the other side, a similarly potent case hardening station...
Dark black oxide coatings look attractive. Aside from that smoky appeal, there’s another benefit to this technique. Designed to act as a corrosion-resistant finish, black oxide treatments stop ferrous parts...
Numerous variables govern the heat treatment process. If one of those variables moves beyond an allowable error margin, the toughened and tempered workpiece will likely demonstrate a set of less...
The successful utilization of a vacuum heat furnace hangs on several important factors, most importantly of which would be the integrity of this vacant space. Contingent on the purity of...
Metal embrittlement occurs during numerous heat treatment processes. Furthermore, certain electrochemical techniques are known to promote this undesirable effect. The result is a finished metal product that’s drastically weakened. Fracture-prone...
Engineering terms usually help out by subtly suggesting their meanings. If someone talks about a quenching operation, then the process becomes self-evident. But that’s not always the case, certainly not...
Despite appearances, heat treatment work relies on a scientifically accurate process. Sure, the coarse industrial outlines operating here may suggest otherwise, but don’t be fooled, this is engineering fidelity labouring...
Just as a refresher, what is heat treatment technology? Certainly, the exposure of a metal part to heat changes its material and mechanical characteristics. And those changes occur over time....
Carbon is the element upon which all of life is founded. Also, in heat treatment technology, carbon is the primary alloying element in the steel hardening process. Not surprisingly, there...
Certain questions always seem to return to torture novice engineers. No sooner has one problem been solved than the next comes careening down the track like a runaway train. It’s...
When a discussion turns to heat treatment, aluminium isn’t the first metal that comes to mind. We think of its lightweight features, the uses of aluminium alloys as an aeronautics...
Let’s navigate our way through a passivation process that earns its name by producing a blue-black protective layer around the subjected steel part. The heat treatment technique essentially forms a...