Heat Treating

Certified Metal Craft meeting the needs of the manufacturing industry since 1969.

Heat Treating is a heating and/or cooling process used on solid metals or alloys to alter the physical and sometimes chemical properties of the material. The heat treating process changes the microstructure and manipulates its mechanical properties for the intent of obtaining specific desired results.

Proper heat treating requires precise control over temperature, the amount of time that an alloy remains at a certain temperature, and in the cooling rates of the particular technique.

Softening:  Softening is done to reduce strength or hardness, remove residual stresses, improve toughnesss, restore ductility, refine grain size or change the electromagnetic properties of the metal.

Hardening: Hardening of metal is done to increase the strength and wear properties. One of the pre-requisites for hardening is sufficient carbon and alloy content. If there is sufficient Carbon content, then the metal can be directly hardened. Otherwise the surface of the part has to be Carbon enriched in order to harden the material (surface only).

Retort Processing	Air Processing	Vacuum Processing
Endothermic Processing	Neutral Salt Processing	Cryogenic Processing

Reasons for heat treating include the following: Remove stresses, such as those developed in processing or manufacturing Refine the grain structure of the metal Improve the properties of an economical grade of metal, making it possible to replace a more expensive grade of metal Increase tensile, toughness, strength and ductility Improves machineability and weldability Improves wear performance Improves the cutting properties of tool steels Improves corrosion resistance in stainless materials Change or modify magnetic properties