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What are the Processes Involved in Heat Treating
Home » Manufacturing » Heat Treating » What are the Processes Involved in Heat TreatingA machinist uses four main processes in heat treating metals or alloys. These heat treating processes include annealing, normalizing, stress relieving, and quench tempering. Some of these subjects were covered briefly above; however, they will be covered more extensively below:
• Annealing: As stated above, annealing is the process whereby the interior composition of metal is changed so as to make the metal stronger and harder. The material is heated to a specific temperature and after that temperature has been reached, the material is than slowly cooled until it has reached room temperature. This is usually done in an oven.
• Normalizing: This is the process machinist use to make material softer but does not alter the chemical composition like annealing does. The material is heated to a specific temperature and then cooled to room temperature without the use of an oven.
• Stress Relieving: Here is a process where the machinist works to make the material softer. Stress relieving does not change the chemical composition of the metal, as would occur with annealing and normalizing. What happens here is the metal is heated to a certain temperature that is lower than what would have been if annealing or normalizing were used. It is then cooled down to room temperature either by placing it inside and oven or leaving it on a rack out the oven.
• Quench Tempering: Here is a process where the machinist job is to make the material harder. It is done by heating the metal to a certain temperature and rapidly cooled in either a bath of water, brine, oil, or air. This helps to increase its hardness.
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- What are the Processes Involved in Heat Treating
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