Steel Castings Heat Treatment
The Sivyer Steel heat treatment for steel castings process consists of 9 gas fired heat treatment ovens and a large 20,000-gallon water quench tank.
We have the ability to process castings requiring normalize operations only, or high temp austenitize, quench and temper. Our high velocity, variable intensity water quench is capable of delivering castings with very stringent mechanical properties.
If for some reason we can’t fit the casting into our ovens or the casting requires on oil quench, we will contract this service outside. We have established relationships with these vendors and take full responsibility for the final quality of the product. And don’t worry, we manage the entire process for you.
Casting Heat Treat Process
Typically, the casting heat treat process could include:
- Annealing
- Strengthening
- Tempering
- Normalizing
- Quenching
All of our castings get some form of a heat treatment process with about 80% of them going through a water quench cycle. This is a high-velocity, variable intensity water quench can achieve the stringent properties you demand. Castings can be normalized or annealed up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, or quench and tempered with variable water temperature depending on your requirements.
For example, our manganese steel requires a high temperature solution with an aggressive quench. On the other hand, some low alloy steel entails a gentle quench to achieve successful strength and toughness. Each casting has its own heat treatment cycle, set forth by our metallurgist, based on alloy type, casting design and expected mechanical properties.
Heat Treatment Benefits
In short, heat treatment is the process of heating metal to a certain temperature below the melting point, holding it for a specified time period and then rapidly cooling it to relieve internal stresses. The most important overall benefit is that the metal will undergo changes in its mechanical properties, including tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, brittleness and ductility in order to produce the desired outcome. Each of these and others will have an effect on the performance of the final product.
Additionally, to further define the processes listed above:
- Annealing will reduce hardness, improve ductility and relieve stress that is built up during solidification
- Normalizing methods will result in a more uniform, fine-grained structure which allows greater mechanical predictability and improved machining qualities
- Strengthening techniques are used to increase yield strength
- Quenching is the process of cooling at a rapid rate that ultimately produces a harder material
- Tempering procedures increases toughness and decreases brittleness
Our metallurgist can determine the right processes for you casting, needed to meet your specifications, to give you the best casting possible.
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