Heat treating changes the properties of metals to enhance their physical attributes. Generally, heat treating has some specific use in mind. Five different methods exist to make a metal more suitable for a specific use. See how you can take advantage of each process to obtain the type of metal you need.
The Process of Tempering
As the name suggests, tempering is the process of heating steel, then allowing it to cool. The cooling process can be carried out with room temperature air. Once the metal has a chance to cool, it becomes harder and less prone to brittleness. Overall, the structure of the metal is a lot more stable after tempering.
The Age Hardening Process
The goal of hardening is to make the metal more uniform in structure. This also results in making it stronger. Hardening consists of heating up the metal, usually to a point over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. At this stage, the metal is coated with a solution. Next, the metal is cooled at a rapid pace. Finally, the heating and cooling process is repeated until the desired structure is obtained. Hardening is great for nickel, stainless steel and aluminum.
The Normalizing Process
Normalizing is intended to purify metals. This process changes the underlying size of the grain to create uniformity. As with hardening, the metal is heated to a specific temperature, then air-cooled.
Summarizing Heat Treatments
In the end, heat can have many different effects on metals. Heat can expand metal, magnetize it or otherwise change its structure. In addition, it can change the electrical resistance of many types of metals. Overall, heat treatments are an effective way to make your metal work for you.