FACT SHEET

Manufacturing Processes Heat Treatment

Introduction

By varying the manner in which materials are heated and cooled, different combinations of
mechanical properties can be obtained. Brief explanations of the major heat treatment
processes are provided in addition to hyperlinks to the Contract Heat Treatment Association
website where detailed descriptions of the processes are displayed.

Stress Relieving*

Stress Relieving can be applied to both ferrous and non-ferrous alloys in order to remove
internal residual stresses generated by prior manufacturing processes such as machining,
cold rolling and welding. Without it, subsequent processing may lead to unacceptable
distortion and the material may be prone to stress corrosion cracking. The treatment is not
intended to produce significant changes in the internal structure of the material or mechanical
properties, and is therefore performed at relatively low temperatures.

Two types of stress relief can be given to carbon and alloy steels:
• Treatment at typically 150-200°C to relief peak stresses after hardening without
significantly reducing hardness.
• Treatment at typically 600-680°C provides full stress relief after welding for example.

Normalising∗

Normalising may be applied to some engineering steels to soften, harden or stress relieve a
material depending on its initial state. The purpose of the heat treatment is to counter the
effects of prior manufacturing processes (e.g. casting, forging, rolling, etc.) by refining the
existing non-uniform structure into one that enhances machinability/formability. The
normalising process consists of heating a suitable steel typically in the temperature range
830-950°C. Heating is usually carried in air, so subsequent machining is required to remove
any oxidation or carburisation that may have occurred.

Annealing∗

The main purpose of an annealing treatment is to reduce the hardness of a material in order
to facilitate further machining operations. Annealing is commonly used after casting, forging
and rolling operations to reduce internal stresses and increase ductility. Many steels in strip
form are annealed, as are most tool steels and stainless steels. Non-ferrous alloys may also
be annealed. The Contract Heat Treatment Association website explains in detail the
various annealing processes available.

∗
Reference: -The Contract Heat Treatment Association

Last modified on 17/10/05 13:38

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Hardening and Tempering∗

Hardening and tempering of engineering steels is undertaken in order to provide components

with mechanical properties suitable for their intended use. Steels are heated to an
appropriate hardening temperature, typically 800-900°C, held at that temperature and then
rapidly quenched in oil or water. This is followed by a temper (a soak at a lower
temperature) which develops the final mechanical properties and relieves stresses. The
actual processes used in the three steps described above are determined by the steel
composition, component dimensions and the mechanical properties required.

Hardening and tempering can be carried out in open furnaces or in a protected environment,
if a clean surface is required, to prevent the deposition of scale. The latter process, referred
to as Neutral or Clean Hardening, is performed under tightly controlled conditions to produce
precision components requiring negligible machining after heat treatment.

Case Hardening – Carburising and Carbonitriding∗

Carburising and carbonitriding case hardening treatments offer a means of enhancing the
strength and wear properties of components. This treatment is necessary for some
components that must have a very hard surface to resist wear and yet retain sufficient
toughness to resist fracture. Carburising and carbonitriding are thermochemical treatments
performed in the 800-940°C temperature range. These processes change the composition
of the surface of low carbon steel components so that subsequent rapid cooling produces a
hard case together with a tougher core. A low temperature temper for stress relief normally
follows quenching. Oil is normally used as the preferred quenching medium although water
quenching can be employed for larger sections. Oil quenching cools the case hardened
component less severely thereby decreasing the risk of distortion.

Induction and Flame Hardening∗

Induction and flame hardening are heat treatment methods used for hardening the surfaces
of components, in selected areas, by the short-time application of a high intensity heating
followed by quenching. The heating and hardening effects are localised and the depth of
hardening is controllable. Unlike thermochemical case hardening techniques, induction and
flame hardening techniques do not promote chemical enrichment of the surface with carbon,
but rely on the presence of an adequate carbon content already within the material to
achieve the hardness level required. The properties of the core remain unaffected and
depend on the material composition and prior heat treatments.

Induction hardening involves passing a high frequency alternating current through a suitable
shaped coil to induce rapid heating of the component surface situated appropriately within its
electromagnetic field. Flame hardening involves the direct impingement of an oxy-gas flame
from suitably designed and positioned burners onto the surface to be hardened. Quenching
follows the heating procedure during both induction and flame hardening techniques.

∗
Reference: -The Contract Heat Treatment Association

Last modified on 17/10/05 13:38

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Internet Resources

Contract Heat Treatment Association provides detailed information relating to specific heat
treatment processes in PDF format. http://www.chta.co.uk/datasheets.html

The University of Newcastle upon Tyne presents notes on various heat treatment processes.
http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/s.j.bull/mmm211/STEEL/sld014.htm

Bodycote Heat Treatments provide a vast range of heat treatment processes.

http://ht.bodycote.com/main.asp

BOC Gases provide information on various heat treatment processes including hardening,
tempering and thermochemical heat treatments.

https://b2.boc.com/catweb/CATweb.nsf/homepage?openform

Last modified on 17/10/05 13:38