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Annealing of Aluminum

Annealing consists of heating the material to 500-800°F (260-426°C) in a similar fashion to solution heat treating, but there is no quench. The material is either removed from the furnace to cool at room temperature, or a specialized furnace cooling method is utilized. This results in a soft material.

benefit

• Soft material is ductile and can be formed, stamped, bent, or machined more easily than tempered material
• Aids in prevention of stress fractures in forming operations

Artificial Aging (Aging)

Artificial aging of aluminum consists of heating the material to 225–500°F (107-260°C) for a specified period of time. This process typically follows solution heat treating to further harden material.

benefit

• Material strength after artificial aging is substantially greater than strength given by solution heat treatment alone
• Vastly improved tensile properties
• Artificial age cycles can be adjusted to meet specific properties
• Reduced internal stresses resulting from solution heat treating

Core Burnout / Thermal Sand Removal / Sand Bakeout

Sand castings sometimes retain sand cores that are too large to safely heat treat. Large sand cores can cause steam explosions when they quench, therefore, if sand core weight is =/> 10% of the casting weight, it requires a core burnout. The material is put through the solution process but does not quench. Sand becomes free flowing and can be dumped or blown out.

benefit

• Prepares the parts for solution heat treating
• Ensures safety of personnel by preventing steam explosions
• Offers increased cleanliness of finished sand-cast parts

Precision Air Quench

The precision air quench involves a three-step process. First, parts are heated to solution temperatures, then quickly transferred to the air quench chamber. High air velocities uniformly cool parts and prepare the parts for the final step in the process. Parts are then artificially aged for 1-10 hours to increase hardness and mechanical properties.

benefit

• Distortion control and dimensional stability
• Ability to more effectively process thin walled aluminum castings and stampings
• Improved mechanical properties
• Increased toughness
• Uniform quenching without vapor layer

Solution & Quench

Solution heat treating of aluminum is a process that involves heating the material to a temperature range of 800-1,100°F (426-593°C) for a specific duration. The heated material is then rapidly quenched in either water, glycol (also known as polymer), or forced air. This rapid change in temperature helps the material acquire enhanced hardness, resulting in several benefits.

Benefits:

• Increased material strength: improves the strength of aluminum makes it more resistant to deformation and enhances structural integrity.
• Improved tensile properties: makes solution heat treated aluminum suitable for high strength-to-weight ratios.
• Improved machinability: decreases the ductility of aluminum, making it easier to machine, and allows for precise shaping.

Solution, Quench, & Age

Solution heat treating of aluminum consists of heating the material up to 800-1,100°F (426-593°C) for a specified period of time, and quenching in water, glycol (AKA polymer), or forced air. Parts move from the solution furnace into a quench tank where the media is 50-200°F (10-93°C). When the material has cooled sufficiently in the quench media, it is transferred to an age furnace where it is heated to 225–500°F (107-260°C) for a specified period of time.

benefit

• Material strength after artificial aging is substantially greater than strength given by solution heat treatment alone
• Vastly improved tensile properties
• Artificial age cycles can be adjusted to meet specific properties
• Reduced internal stresses resulting from solution heat treating

Stress Relieving of Aluminum

Stress relieving of aluminum typically consists of heating the material to 225–500°F (107-260°C) for a specified period of time, but processes vary greatly and can require temperatures up to 1,000°F (537°C).

benefit

Reduces existing internal stresses, resulting in lower propensity for stress fractures in machining, bending, or other forming operations