Common Applications of Heat Treatments
Heat treatment is a controlled process of heating and cooling material in order to improve its properties, performance, and strength. In this manufacturing process, a metal is altered by heating and cooling cycles under different thermal boundary conditions and wide temperature ranges. Most metals and alloys are in some way heated, and their importance is seen in many products in the aerospace, automotive, construction, agriculture, consumer goods, and mining industries. There are three main steps in the heat treatment process, which include heating the metal to a specific temperature, soaking or maintaining the specific temperature for a certain amount of time, and cooling to a suitable rate following prescribed methods. There are seven main techniques used for the heat treatment of materials, they are:
- Normalising
- Annealing
- Tempering
- Hardening
- Ageing
- Stress Relieving
- Carburisation
Normalising
Normalizing heat treatment helps remove impurities and improve metal´s ductility and toughness after it has been exposed to thermal or mechanical hardening processes. During this process, the material is heated to 750 °C -980 °C, and it is then cooled back to room temperature by exposing it to room temperature air after being heated.
Normalising causes microstructures to reform into more ductile structures. This is important because it makes the metal more formable, machinable, and reduces residual stresses in the material that could lead to unexpected failure.
Annealing
Annealing is a heat treatment process that is used to increase the ductility and reduce the hardness of a material. Annealing is often performed after material has undergone a hardening or cold working process to prevent it from brittle failure or to make it more formable for subsequent operations.
Depending on the alloy, the temperature ranges from 260 °C to 760 °C. Annealing changes the physical and chemical properties of a material to increase its ductility and reduce its hardness. For more insights, our Annealing Article is very useful.
Tempering
Tempering is a heat treatment process that consists of reheating hardened steel to a temperature below the lower critical temperature in order to decrease its hardness, improve its toughness, and remove internal stresses caused by the rapid cooling of steel.
There are three types of temperatures used in the tempering process: low temperature 100°C -200°C, medium temperature 200°C to 500°C and high temperature 500°C to 700°C. For more information on tempering please refer to our Tempering Article.
Hardening
The hardening process consists of heating the material above the critical point, followed by rapid cooling, usually from 800-900°C; it is the most common heat treatment process of all.
The material can be cooled rapidly in air, water, oil or others. The rapid cooling process is known as quenching- applied to stainless and high-alloy steels.
The use of metal hardening results in an improvement of the metal´s mechanical properties, and its hardness, making it more durable and tougher.
Ageing
Also called precipitation hardening, ageing is a heat treatment method used mostly to increase the yield strength of malleable metals. The process produces uniformly dispersed particles within a metal´s grain structure which bring about changes in properties.
Ageing usually comes after another heat treatment process that reaches higher temperature- ageing only elevates the temperature to medium levels and brings it down quickly (95°-205°C).
Properties of ageing include high tensile strength and hardness, improves wear resistance, allows for easy machinability of material, and allows for little to no distortion of the component.
Stress Relieving
Stress relieving heat treatment is intended to remove internal residual stresses generated by prior manufacturing processes such as machining, welding, and cold rolling.
Without a stress relieving process, subsequent processing may give rise to distortions or stress corrosion cracking.
Stress relieving does not produce significant changes in material structures or mechanical properties, and is therefore normally restricted to relatively low temperatures (between 550°C and 650°C).
Carburisation
Carburisation is a heat treatment process in which iron or steel absorbs carbon while the metal is heated in the presence of a carbon-rich gas atmosphere. The process of heating a metal component in a high carbon environment allows for the diffusion of carbon atoms directly into the surface of the part that needs to be case hardened.
The carburizing temperature varies between 870 °C and 940°C. The amount of carbon and resultant case depth that gets diffused into the metal surface depends on the carbon potential of the atmosphere, the temperature at which it is heated and the time it is exposed to that temperature.
Longer carburizing cycle times, higher temperatures, and higher carbon potentials will increase the amount of carbon diffused into the surface and the depth of the case.
JLS (Redditch) Ltd Rapid Quench 550°C Electric Oven
This JLS 550°C, electric, front loading, rapid quench oven is a forced convection type oven with re-circulating air. With a calibrated work area of 1100mm x 2300mm x 1100mm, this NADCAP & AMS2750D (± 6°C) standard oven was previously used for annealing components to an aerospace specification.
- Stock No
- AEF200
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- JLS (Redditch) Ltd Annealing Treatment Oven
- Year of Manufacture
- 2008
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 1400 x 2500 x 1200
- Max Temp
- 550°C
- Other Info
- Rapid Quench
- Condition
- Seen working by RSW, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Aeroforma – Preliminary Announcement
JLS (Redditch) Ltd 300°C Precipitation Hardening & Ageing Oven - AMS2750D
JLS precipitation hardening & ageing, forced convection oven built to AMS2750D & Nadcap class 2 (± 5°C) standard, previously used for the heat treatment of aluminium aerospace components and last calibrated November 2024.
- Stock No
- AEF300
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- JLS (Redditch) Ltd Precipitation Hardening & Ageing Oven
- Year of Manufacture
- 2008
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 1200 x 2500 x 1200
- Max Temp
- 300°C
- Other Info
- Calibrated November 2024 ± 5°C @ 200°C
- Condition
- Seen working by RSW, Excellent Condition
- Location
- Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
- Part of a Direct Site Clearance
- Aeroforma – Preliminary Announcement
Riley 300°C Superior Laboratory Oven Range
A range of vertical ovens from 50-240 litres that operate at up to 300°C. Ovens are lined with a stainless steel chamber and include a fan and digital controls.
- Stock No
- NEW060
- Category
- Laboratory & Bench Top Ovens
- Model
- Riley GPS-OV Full Range
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- From 50-240 litres
- Max Temp
- 300°C
- Other Info
- British Made
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Riley 250°C Laboratory Oven Range
A range of vertical ovens from 30-350 litres that operate at up to 250°C. Ovens are lined with a aluminised clad steel chamber and include a fan and digital controls.
- Stock No
- NEW061
- Category
- Laboratory & Bench Top Ovens
- Model
- Riley GP-OV Full Range
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- From 30-350 litres
- Max Temp
- 250°C
- Other Info
- British Made
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Riley 300°C Heavy Duty Vertical Oven Range
A range of heavy duty ovens from 200-1000 litres that operate at up to 300°C. Ovens are lined with a stainless steel chamber and include a fan and digital controls.
- Stock No
- NEW062
- Category
- Laboratory & Bench Top Ovens
- Model
- Riley HDV-OV Full Range
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 200 - 1000 litres
- Max Temp
- 300°C
- Other Info
- British Made
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Riley 300°C Heavy Duty Horizontal Oven Range
A range of horizontal heavy duty horizontal ovens with twin doors that operate at up to 300°C. Ovens are lined with a stainless steel chamber and include a fan and digital controls.
- Stock No
- NEW063
- Category
- Laboratory & Bench Top Ovens
- Model
- Riley HDH-OV Range
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 425 litres
- Max Temp
- 300°C
- Other Info
- British Made
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 350°C Industrial Oven Range
350°C general purpose batch ovens, ideal for a vast range of low temperature thermal processes such as drying, curing and pre-heating.
- Stock No
- NEW070
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- SNOL
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 350°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 650°C High Temperature Oven Range
General purpose high temperature, industrial, batch ovens which set the standard for a wide range of industrial processing applications
- Stock No
- NEW071
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- SNOL
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 650°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 650°C High Temperature Oven with Powered Door
General purpose high temperature, industrial, batch oven suitable for a wide range of industrial processing applications. Includes a vertical powered door.
- Stock No
- NEW072
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- SNOL
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- 600 x 750 x 900
- Max Temp
- 650°C
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 1100°C - 1300°C Muffle Furnace Range
The economical muffle furnace is designed for general workshop and laboratory heat treatments up to 1300°C and up to 39 litres.
- Stock No
- NEW073
- Category
- Tool Room & Bench Top Furnaces
- Model
- SNOL LHM01
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 1100°C, 1300°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 1100°C - 1300°C Chamber Furnace Range
SNOL's LSF01 is a compact laboratory furnace, suitable for applications in the laboratory or light industry setting, especially when multiple or larger test samples are required.
- Stock No
- NEW074
- Category
- Tool Room & Bench Top Furnaces
- Model
- SNOL LSF01
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 1100°C, 1200°C, 1300°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 300°C Laboratory Oven Range
A range of laboratory ovens 120-420 litres that operate at up to 300°C. Ovens are lined with a stainless steel chamber and include a fan and digital controls.
- Stock No
- NEW075
- Category
- Laboratory & Bench Top Ovens
- Model
- SNOL LSN11
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 300°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL 300°C Laboratory Oven Range - All Stainless Steel
A range of laboratory ovens 120-420 litres that operate at up to 300°C. Ovens are lined with a stainless steel chamber, clad with stainless steel panels and include a fan and digital controls.
- Stock No
- NEW076
- Category
- Laboratory & Bench Top Ovens
- Model
- SNOL LSN11 ST
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 300°C
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
SNOL Custom Build Furnaces & Ovens
Custom built ovens and furnaces to meet your project requirements and standards.
- Stock No
- NEW079
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- SNOL
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Romer 200°C Industrial Oven Range
200°C general purpose, electric, batch ovens from 3.4m3 upwards. Ideal for a vast range of low temperature thermal processes such as drying, curing and pre-heating.
- Stock No
- NEW080
- Category
- Industrial Ovens
- Model
- Romer
- Internal Size (WxDxH mm) [?]
- Various
- Max Temp
- 200°C
- Other Info
- Touchscreen Control plus iCure Software
- Condition
- Brand New
- Availability:
- Available subject to build time
- Price [?]
- Please call on +44 (0) 1922 45 8000
Machines & equipment for sale
- Surface Treatment
- Cleaning & Degreasing
- Polishing & Belt Linishing
- Mass Finishing
- Ovens & Furnaces
- Process Cooling
- Shot Blasting
- Dust & Fume Extraction
- Air Compressors
- Rectifiers & Transformers
- Miscellaneous
- Latest Stock
- Special Offers
- Direct From Site Clearances
- Auctions
- Brand New Machines
- Available Immediately
- Sell Your Machine
Machine Alert
Get the latest machines emailed directly to you as they become available to buy online. Sign Up Now
