As more types of construction and manufacturing move towards options in material that are sustainable and environmentally friendly, the demand for steel in a range of different applications continues to increase.
Preparing the steel for use in these types of applications means ensuring the physical properties of the steel are in the most appropriate format and structure. To accomplish this, steel heat treating is often used in one or more form with the various parts and components.
The term heating treating when it comes to steel and other types of metals can include a range of different processes. The most common include annealing, quenching, and tempering as well as hardening. There are other heat treating processes that can be used for specialized types of applications, such as case hardening to boost resistance to wear and tear.
The Basics Of the Process
While there are differences between the various options in steel heat treating, the goal is always to change or reverse changes in the structure of the internal grains that make up the part or component. During specific types of working and heating, these grains can become misaligned, creating areas of physical change in the metal.
There the steel heat treating process, the steel part or component is heated to a specific temperature, held at this temperature to allow for the desired structural transformation, and then cooled slowly and in a controlled way. This allows the grain structure to become smaller and fully aligned, creating a stronger steel part or component that offers both improved sheer as well as tensile strength.
Depending on the specifics of the part or component, different heat treatments may be used at different points in the development of the part. These are carefully selected and sequenced for the greatest efficiency and lowest cost of production.