Understanding the Jominy end quench test
The Jominy end quench test (ASTM A255 ) is an extremely simple and useful test that is applicable to many materials besides steel...
Use of molten salt in heat treatment
At the turn of the 20th century, the use of molten salt as a heating and quenching medium for steels was developed in England....
Heat treatment of aluminum VI – Artificial aging
In the previous column, we described the fundamentals of natural aging. In natural aging, the solid solution obtained after quenching starts to form precipitates...
Heat treatment of aluminum – Part II
In my article last month, I discussed the alloying elements used in aluminum alloys. In this article, I will be discussing the solution heat...
Using water as a quenchant
In this short column, we will discuss quenching with water. As a quenching medium, plain water approaches the maximum cooling rate attainable in a...
Heat treatment of aluminum, part II: Water quenching
In the last article, we talked about the metallurgy behind quenching aluminum. Now we are going to discuss the available quenchants for aluminum.
Introduction
To achieve...
Heat treatment of aluminum – Part I: Quenching basics
In previous articles, we discussed the role of alloying elements and discussed the solution heat treatment of aluminum. We showed that it is important...
Understanding the effect of boron in steels
In this column, we will discuss the effect of boron additions to steel and its influence on properties.
Boron, B, is an element with an...
Heat treatment of aluminum, Part V
After quenching and any straightening, the supersaturated solid solution of aluminum wants to reach equilibrium. It does this through the process of precipitation hardening....
Troubleshooting induction hardening problems: Part 1
Induction hardening is a unique method used to harden steels. The process uses a power supply, RF generator, induction coil, and quenching mechanism (spray...
Carbon: Essential element or too much of a good thing
52100: Simple, yet it embraces carbon’s two-way benefit to steel
The heat treatment of aluminum – Introduction
Aluminum’s many desirable properties, such as high strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, ease of processing, and low cost, make it a very widely used...
Heat treatment of aluminum Part VII – Hardness and conductivity
In the previous article, we discussed the artificial aging of aluminum. Once we have heat treated the parts, we need to verify the properties....
Furnace Doors
No matter the configuration, single or multi-chamber vacuum, batch integral quench, continuous, or even pits — an item that all furnaces have in common...
Determining Grossman H-value from cooling curve data
In the last article, I described how the Jominy end quench test could be used to predict hardness for a series of different round...
Heat treating is not for the faint of heart
Why heat-treating furnaces look the way they do, Part 2
Classifying non-metallic inclusions in steels
In this column, we will discuss the different types of inclusions present in steels and discuss their physical metallurgy. As property requirements increase, and...
Heat treatment of aluminum, quenching Part III
In the last article, we discussed quenching of aluminum, and the importance of rapid quenching to prevent the formation of precipitates at the grain...
Predicting hardness by the Grossman H-Value
In the last article, we described a method of calculating the Grossman H-Value . In the article before last, we described a method of...
Stainless Steels
Kitchen sinks, refrigerator or oven doors, and tableware are what many people think of when they are asked what’s made from stainless steel (SS)....
Heat treatment of aluminum IV: Handling distortion
After quenching, depending on the quenchant used, distortion of parts can occur. This is particularly true for water-quenched parts. Parts must be straightened. This...
Hardenability – the influence of tramp elements
Hardenability is the property of a material to deeply harden, and not the ability to get hard . This basic concept has driven much...
Estimating required flow through quench tanks
In this month’s column, I will discuss a method of estimating the required flow for a quench tank.
Agitation has a significant effect on...
Understanding the basics of spray quenching
Spray quenching involves the removal of heat by the impingement of a liquid quenchant on a hot metal surface. Examples include:
Fog quenching.
Quenching...
Safety considerations when quenching with oil or salt
In this column, we will consider safety aspects of quenching with oil or molten salt.
Heat treating is a manufacturing process where the goal is...
Furnace Types
Heat treating furnaces consist of several subassemblies: insulation (fiber and brick), heating systems (electric and gas), material handling, quenching, atmosphere system, process and control...
Thermal triplets: PM, sintering, and case hardening
From my experience, powder metals (PM), sintering, and case hardening are three processes that could be said to be joined at the hip. More...
Troubleshooting induction hardening problems: Part 2
Last month, I began a two-part article about troubleshooting induction hardening problems and discussed possible corrections. This month, I will discuss biological and odor...
Anatomy of a Heat-Treating System
Ninety-eight 600-pound trays are in continuous process, 13 are in the pre-process queue, nine preheating, 14 in the boost carb, eight in the diffusion...
Use of molten salts for martempering of steel
In July’s column, I talked about molten salts and the different types. In this short column, we discuss the benefits of using molten salts...
Developing a superalloy with superior heat resistance
Demand for superior machinery that can operate effectively under extreme conditions is driving the development of newer alloys. One significant example is the preparation...
Control of distortion in heat-treated aluminum
In this column, we will discuss controlling the distortion of aluminum heat-treated components.
The heat treatment of aluminum (solution heat treatment, quenching and aging) are...
Intensive Quenching
Heat treating is similar to art in many ways, but not for the reasons you might think. Art, it’s said, is in the eye...
Furnace Maintenance
When a heat treat manager or anyone responsible for purchasing heat treating equipment makes a buy decision, they must first consider the process required,...
Troubleshooting induction hardening problems – Part III
In previous columns, I have provided some detail on the sources of problems with induction hardening. While I have tried to be inclusive, there...
Heating with natural gas
It’s no secret that the heat treating industry is one of the major recipients of the impact when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)...
Heat Treating, Furnaces, and Unintended Consequences
A few decades ago, my involvement with depleted uranium (DU) began in the metallurgical R&D department, developing program logic to heat treat DU in...
The big gamble: Electric vehicles or bust
There’s a big gamble going on in Detroit, and I don’t mean at Greektown Casino; it’s at the big three automakers. All have, in...
Some things old can be new again
Why heat-treating furnaces look the way they do
Carburizing today: The secrets to predicting success
Predicting the outcome for today’s various carburizing processes requires different procedures and processes.
Carburizing today is performed by two primary processes, at or above atmospheric...
