04/07/2023
HEAT TREATMENT
The properties of metals are determined by :
1- The size, shape, and orientation of grains
2- The types and relative amount of phases present
3- The amount of cold working.
By controlling the above three items, we can produce the particular properties we want in a steel. The best way to exert this control is through alloy additions and through heat treatment. In this section, we'll examine the heat treatments that are commonly used in manufacturing our Oil Tool materials.
Virtually all major pressure boundary partners in Oil Tool products are made of either low alloy or 410 stainless steel. Low alloy steels are always provided in the quenched and tempered or the normalized, quenched, and tempered conditions while 410 stainless steel is usually provided in the quenched and double tempered condition . Two other types of heat treatments that we use are age hardening for A 286 , 17-4 PH , and X-750 alloys and annealing for 316 stainless steel as well as for other metals. We'll examine each these heat treatments in detail.
- Normalizing --- Normalizing involves heating a steel to a temperature about 100°F into the fully austenitic region, then removing the material from the furnace and allowing it to cool in still air . Normalizing accomplishes several things. First, it produced a fine grained pearlitic structure, thus enhancing the uniformity of mechanical properties. Second, it can greatly improve notch toughness. Third, it removes some of the stresses that occur in the material during forging or rolling operations. And finally it homogenizes the material, making it easier to austenitize in a subsequent heat treat operation.
C.S.C