What is
Annealing?
In general terms, annealing is done by
heating a metal part or component in a furnace to a specific
temperature and then cooling it according to specifications.
Beneficial qualities annealing achieves
include:
• Softening or decreasing the metal’s hardness
• Stress relieving the metal
Softening
Hardness is the degree to which a metal resists deformation
through indentation. In some cases, manufacturers may need
a final product that is extremely strong and durable. For
this reason, a metal such as steel, with a high degree of
hardness, may be the correct choice. However, in order to
make it possible to shape and form the product, the metal
must be softened for the manufacturing process. By annealing
the metal part or component, Quality Steel Treating can
improve the machining or cold working properties of the
metal and make a product cheaper and easier to produce.
Stress Relieving
Metal fatigue and stress are often caused by repeated use
in arduous or corrosive conditions. Its impact is commonly
felt in products that are expected to perform the same function
for multiple cycles at high repetitions, such as aircraft
engines components, high performance automotive
components or high-speed
boat engines. Cracks can appear in metal parts or components
due to the fatigue, causing breakage or failure. Stress
relieving parts is also sometimes necessary due to manufacturing
stresses introduced by rolling, forging, machining, forming
or bending.
The manufacturing process itself can sometimes
put undue stress and fatigue on a metal part or component
before it is even used, increasing the chances of poor product
performance. Through annealing, Quality
Steel Treating assists manufacturers in facing this challenge
by helping to de-stress the metal, increasing a product’s
long-term durability and safety.
Quality performs:
• Bright Annealing to reduce oxidation
and retain surface brightness of metals.
• Vacuum Annealing
• Homogenizing Annealing
degassing |
