Heat

Treatm
ent

THEORY
The various types of heat-treating processes
are similar because they all involve the
heating and cooling of metals; they differ in
the heating temperatures and the cooling
rates used and the final results. The usual
methods of heat-treating ferrous metals
(metals with iron) are annealing, normalizing,
hardening, and tempering. Most nonferrous
metals can be annealed, but never
tempered, normalized, or case-hardened.

DEFINITION
Heat treatingis a group of industrial and metalworking
processes used to alter the physical, and sometimes
chemical, properties of a material. The most common
application is metallurgical.Heat treatmentsare also
used in the manufacture of many other materials, such
as glass.
Heat treatment is an operation or combination of
operations involving heating at a specific rate, soaking
at a temperature for a period of time and cooling at
some specified rate. The aim is to obtain a desired
microstructure to achieve certain predetermined
properties (physical, mechanical, magnetic or electrical).

STAGES OF HEAT TREATMENT

HEATING STAGE
The primary objective in the heating stage is
to maintain uniform temperatures. If uneven
heating occurs, one section of a part can
expand faster than another and result in
distortion or cracking. Uniform temperatures
are attained by slow heating.

STAGES OF HEAT TREATMENT

SOAKING STAGE
After the metal is heated to the proper
temperature, it is held at that temperature
until the desired internal structural changes
take place. The length of time held at the
proper temperature is called soaking period.
It depends on the chemical analysis of the
metal and the mass of the part.

STAGES OF HEAT TREATMENT

COOLING STAGE
After a metal has been soaked, it must be returned
to room temperature to complete the heat-treating
process. It can be placed in direct contact with a
cooling medium (gas, liquid, solid, or combination of
these). The rate at which the metal is cooled
depends on the metal and the properties desired.
The rate of cooling depends on the medium;
therefore, the choice of a cooling medium has an
important influence on the properties desired.

Types of Heat Treatment

ANNEALING.NORMALIZING.HARDENING.TEMPERING

ANNEALING
This is the exact opposite of
hardening. You anneal metals to
relieve internal stresses, soften them,
make them more ductile, and refine
their grain structures.

NORMALIZING
Normalizing is applicable to ferrous
metals only. The purpose of
normalizing is to remove the internal
stresses induced by heat treating,
welding, casting, forging, forming, or
machining.

HARDENING
Hardening increases the hardness
and strength of the steel, but makes
it less ductile. Generally, the harder
the steel, the more brittle it becomes.
To remove some of the brittleness,
you should temper the steel after
hardening.

TEMPERING
After the hardening, steel is often
harder than needed and too brittle for
most practical uses. Also, internal
stresses are set up during the rapid
cooling from the hardening
temperature. To relieve internal
stresses and reduce brittleness,
temper the steel after hardening.

Case Hardening
Case hardening produces a hard,
wear-resistant surface or case over
a strong, tough core. The principal
forms of casehardening are
carburizing, cyaniding, and
nitriding. Only ferrous metals are
case-hardened.

 CYANIDINGa type
Case Hardening
of case hardening
CARBURIZINGa
that is fast and
case-hardening
efficient. This
process by which
process produces a
carbon is added to
thin, hard shell that
surface of lowis harder than the
carbon steel. This
one produced by
results in carburized
carburizing and can
steel that has a
be completed in 20
high-carbon surface
to 30 minutes vice
and a low-carbon
several hours. The
interior. When the
major drawback is
carburized steel is
that cyanide salts
heat-treated, case
are a deadly poison.
becomes hardened

Case Hardening
NITRIDINGcasehardening method
produces the
hardest surface of
any of the
hardening
processes. It differs
from the other
methods in that the
individual parts
have been heattreated and

FLAME HARDENING
This process produces
a thin, hardened
surface, and at the
same time, the internal
parts retain their
original properties.
Whether the process is
manual or mechanical,
a close watch must be
maintained

Stress Relieving
carried out on metal products in order
to minimize residual stresses in the
structure thereby reducing the risk of
dimensional changes during further
manufacturing or final use of the
component.

HARDNESS
Resistance of metal to plastic deformation,
usually by indentation. However, the term
may also refer to stiffness or temper or to
resistance to scratching, abrasion, or
cutting. It is the property of a metal, which
gives it the ability to resist being
permanently, deformed (bent, broken, or
have its shape changed), when a load is
applied.

Tensile Strength
measurement of theforcerequired to
pull something such asrope,wire, or
a structural beam to the point where
it breaks.
The tensile strength of amaterialis
the maximum amount oftensile
stressthat it can take before failure,
for example breaking.

Types/functions/operations
application and uses

 to increase strength, harness and wear

resistance (bulk hardening, surface
hardening)
to increase ductility and softness
(tempering, recrystallization annealing)
to increase toughness (tempering,
recrystallization annealing)
to obtain fine grain size (recrystallization
annealing, full annealing, normalizing)
to remove internal stresses induced by
differential deformation by cold working,
non-uniform cooling from high temperature
during casting and welding (stress relief
,annealing)

 to improve machinability (full annealing

and normalizing)
to improve cutting properties of tool
steels (hardening and tempering)
to improve surface properties (surface
hardening, corrosion resistancestabilising treatment and high
temperature resistance-precipitation
hardening, surface treatment)
to improve electrical properties
(recrystallization, tempering, age
hardening)
to improve magnetic properties
(hardening, phase transformation)

What are some safety precautions to

follow during a heat-treating operation?
Wear a face shield, safety glasses, gloves and
heat-resistant protective clothing when working
with hot metal. Quench oils may be very hot
(above 100C) and oil temperature increases
during quenching. Splashes or skin contact cause
burns. Avoid skin contact with oils by using gloves
and protective clothing.
Check that all safety devices, such as automatic
shut-off valves, air switches, and exhaust fans are
working properly before lighting the furnace.
Ensure the volume of the cooling medium is
sufficient for the job. As the metal cools, the
medium absorbs the heat. If there is not enough
medium, it will become too hot to cool the metal
at the desired rate.

What are some things you

should avoid doing?
Do not inhale the fumes from a molten carburizing salt
bath. During the carburizing process, carbon monoxide
is generated. Ensure that this area is well ventilated.
These molten salt baths may contain potassium or
sodium cyanide, a deadly poison. Handle the salt
mixture with caution and watch for contamination from
carburized metal pieces.
Do not wear oil-soaked clothing or put oily rags in your
pockets.
Do not bring food or drink into areas where quench oils
are stored or used.
Do not wear or take oil-contaminated clothing or
equipment into areas where food or drink are
consumed.

 Follow the manufacturer's instructions when

lighting the furnace.
Stand to one side when lighting a gas- or
oil-fired furnace.
Ensure that water does not contaminate the
quenching oil. Any moisture which comes in
contact with the oil can cause an explosion.
Use the proper tongs for the job and make
sure the tongs are dry before removing any
work from a liquid carburizing pot.
Ensure that a suitable bacterial inhibitor or
fungicide has been added to the quenching
liquid.
Cover quench tanks when not in use.

 Clean up oil spills and leaks immediately

using a nonflammable absorbant.
Keep work areas, jigs, baskets and tools free
from oil contamination where possible.
Wash hands thoroughly after work, at breaks
(particularly meal times), before starting
other tasks, or before using the toilet.
Obtain first aid for all cuts and abrasions.
Protect them from contamination by using
suitable dressings.
Report to your supervisor and obtain medical
attention when suffering from, or suspecting,
skin trouble.