HEAT TREATMENT
Heat treatment involves controlled heating and cooling processes to alter the physical and mechanical properties of metal components. This technique is essential for improving hardness, strength, and resistance to wear and fatigue. Our heat treatment services ensure that your parts achieve the desired performance characteristics for demanding applications.
Types of heat treatments
ANNEALING
Annealing is a heat treatment process that reduces hardness and improves ductility and machinability. It involves heating a material above its recrystallization temperature, maintaining this temperature for a specific period, and then cooling it. This process alters the physical and sometimes chemical properties of the material, making it more workable.
commonly used materials
low-carbon steel, cast iron, copper, brass, aluminum, silver
common products
sheet metal, springs, washers, saw blades, and drawn aluminum components
QUENCHING & TEMPERING
Quenching & tempering is a combined heat treatment process that significantly increases the strength and toughness of steel parts. The process involves heating the material to a high temperature, rapidly cooling it (quenching), and then reheating it to a lower temperature (tempering). This combination enhances the material's mechanical properties, including strength, hardness, and toughness.
commonly used materials
heat-treatable steels like chromium-molybdenum alloy steel (e.g., 42CrMo4), non-ferrous metals (i.e. titanium alloys
common products
crankshafts, gears, machine parts, agricultural equipment components, construction materials
CASE HARDENING
Case hardening, also known as surface hardening, involves processes like carburizing, nitriding, and induction hardening to enhance wear resistance. This heat treatment method hardens the surface of a metal substrate while maintaining a softer core. It introduces carbon or nitrogen to the surface of low-carbon steel or iron, creating a hard, wear-resistant outer layer while preserving the ductility and toughness of the core.
commonly used materials
low-carbon steel, iron, certain alloy steels
common products
gears, bearings, camshafts, crankshafts, screws, lock components
SURFACE TREATMENT
Surface treatment processes enhance the exterior properties of metal components, providing protection against corrosion, improving aesthetic appeal, and increasing wear resistance. Our surface treatment services include a variety of techniques tailored to meet your specific requirements, ensuring your parts maintain their quality and functionality in challenging environments.
Types of heat treatments
COATING
Coating involves applying a covering material to the surface of an object to enhance its properties, such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance, or aesthetics. Common coating processes include spray coating, dip coating, and electroplating. Spray coating uses specialized equipment to apply liquid or powder coatings uniformly, accommodating complex geometries. Dip coating immerses the substrate in a coating bath for consistent thickness, while electroplating deposits a thin metal layer through an electrochemical process. Coatings enhance surface properties, offer a versatile range of materials like paints, polymers, and metals, and are suitable for various substrates. However, achieving uniform thickness on complex geometries and avoiding defects can be challenging.
commonly used materials
epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic paints, thermoplastic or thermoset polymers, & electroplated metals (i.e. chromium, nickel, & zinc)
common products
automotive parts (i.e. engine components & body panels), industrial equipment (i.e. machinery parts & tools)
ANODIZING
Anodizing is an electrochemical process that converts the surface of metals, primarily aluminum, into a durable, corrosion-resistant oxide layer. This process enhances protection and aesthetic qualities, providing excellent corrosion and wear resistance, improved surface hardness, and decorative finishes in various colors. It is environmentally friendly with minimal waste. However, anodizing is limited to certain metals & can cause dimensional changes due to oxide layer growth.
commonly used materials
aluminum & aluminum alloys
common products
aerospace & automotive parts (i.e. structural components & engine parts)
SHOT PEENING
Shot peening is a cold working process that involves impacting a metal surface with small spherical media, called shot. This process creates a compressive residual stress layer, significantly enhancing the fatigue life and strength of metal components. It also improves resistance to stress corrosion cracking and galling. Shot peening is suitable for various metals and alloys and can be automated for high-volume production. However, it can cause surface roughening or dimpling, requiring additional finishing, and is less effective on complex geometries or internal surfaces.
commonly used materials
ferrous alloys (i.e. carbon & stainless steels) & non-ferrous alloys (i.e. aluminum, titanium, & nickel-based alloys)
common products
crankshafts, gears, springs, aerospace parts (i.e. landing gear & turbine blades) & industrial equipment (i.e. bearings, shafts,
& tools)