METAL HEAT TREATING FAQ
Hudapack has worked diligently to be a leader in the heat treatment industry since our inception. We invest in modern equipment and facilities that support a full range of high-quality commercial heat treating solutions. In other words, we know heat treatment in and out, and you can turn to us for any of your heat treating questions.
WHAT IS METAL HEAT TREATING?
Let’s start with the basics and give some definition to the term “heat treatment.” Heat treatment applies to any process where heating and cooling are used to intentionally alter the physical and/or chemical properties of a metal. Often, this involves extreme temperatures that result in harder, stronger, tougher, and more resilient parts. Hudapack performs these high-quality heat treatment processes for leading industrial companies to maximize manufacturing efficiencies and minimize costs.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF METAL HEAT TREATING PROCESSES?
Heat treatment techniques range from atmosphere heat treating to gas nitriding and nitro carburizing. Metalworkers rely on these processes to deliver properties customers need. At Hudapack, we specialize in the following heat treatment techniques:
Atmosphere Heat Treating
Atmosphere heat treating is used to maintain the integrity of metals under a controlled, gaseous environment. Services include carburizing, carbonitriding, neutral hardening, carbon restoration, annealing, normalizing, stress relieving, and cryogenic treatment.
Atmosphere Carburizing
Atmosphere carburizing consists of setting the carbon potential of the atmosphere well above the carbon percentage of the component. It is often the heat treatment process of choice for components that require wear resistance, impact resistance, and improved mechanical properties.
Induction Hardening and Annealing
Induction hardening and annealing may be necessary when only select areas of a component may need to be hardened. In induction hardening, a quenchant is used (a liquid used to add hardness). A quenchant is not used in induction annealing.
Induction Fastener Heating
Induction fastener heat treating involves the hardening of fasteners, shafts, gears, and other parts that require selective hardening, also known as differential hardening.
Vacuum Processing
Vacuum processing means operating under a vacuum where no oxygen encounters the surface of the material. It offers the advantage of higher temperatures (up to 2400˚F) and control.
Aluminum Processing
Aluminum heat treatment involves air or fan-blast quenching of aluminum to increase strength and hardness.
Gas Nitriding and Gaseous Nitrocarburizing
Gas Nitriding is a surface diffusion process that forms a nitride layer using dissociated ammonia as the source. Gaseous nitrocarburizing produces a wear-resistant diffused compound layer.
WHAT FACILITIES SUPPORT THESE PROCESSES?
Heat treatment plants support a wide range of processes with advanced and reliable equipment, adequate space, and a location that’s conducive to reaching customers. At Hudapack, every facility is designed with our customers in mind. Our plants are strategically located and fully equipped with top-of-the-line equipment, contain complete metallurgical labs, and have capabilities including atmosphere, induction and vacuum processing.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON HEAT TREATMENT TERMS?
Slowly cooling a metal to eliminate internal stresses and result in a softer part. This can help improve machinability.
Hardening:
The process of using heat treatments to harden an alloy.
Tempering:
Tempering is the level or “temperature” a material or part is stress relieved at to improve stability or toughness.
Normalizing:
Heating a metal to a high temperature and cooling it back to room temperature.
Strengthening:
Increasing a material’s ability to endure applied force.
Toughness:
The ability of a material to absorb energy.
Quenching:
When a medium such as oil or nitrogen is used to remove heat from a part.
WHAT INDUSTRIES NEED METAL HEAT TREATING?
Leading companies in a wide range of industries rely on heat treating to produce high-quality, resilient metals:
Automotive • Biomedical • Chemical • Computer • Construction • Electrical • Farm Machinery • Fasteners • Food Processing • Forging • Foundry • Gear • Hardware • Investment Casting • Marine • Military • Mining • Pharmaceutical • Recreational • Tool and Die
WHY CHOOSE HUDAPACK FOR METAL HEAT TREATING?
Hudapack is a partner of choice for many of America’s leading industrial companies. We specialize in procuring the right heat treatment process for your projects. The combination of our advanced capabilities, multiple strategic locations, skilled employees, process expertise, and commitment to excellence, experience, and reliability make us your number one choice for all things heat treating.
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