Why Do We Heat-Treat?

Heat treatment is a unique step in the manufacturing process because, in a single word, it is
manipulative.
In other words, by changing the type of heat treatment or the steps involved in the process,
we can create different end results. One type of treatment will produce parts that are strong, such
as
automotive connecting rods or aircraft landing gear. By altering the treatment, parts can be made
soft
for use in such applications as automotive gaskets or rivets. Still other treatments will make parts
tough enough to withstand sudden impact, such as railroad springs or safety shoe toe caps.
Corrosion
resistance can be enhanced in applications as diverse as aerospace turbine blades and kitchen
sinks.
Still other characteristics can be produced such as high hardness for bearing applications, or
improvement in fatigue life and pitting resistance in gears. Virtually all materials can have their
properties
enhanced by heat treatment.
The heat treating process involves heating and cooling a material in such a way as to obtain
desired specific conditions or properties. Some of the reasons for heat treating include the
following:
Remove stresses, such as those developed in processing a part.
Refine the grain structure of the steel used in a part.
Add wear resistance to the surface of a part by increasing its hardness; and, at the same time,
increase its resistance to impacts by maintaining a soft, ductile core.
Beef up the properties of an economical grade of steel, making it possible to replace a more
expensive
steel and reduce material costs in a given application.
Increase toughness by providing a combination of high tensile strength and good ductility to
enhance impact strength.
Improve cutting properties.
Upgrade electrical properties.
Change or modify magnetic properties.
Our goal, however, is to avoid or eliminate this step in the manufacturing process. No one wants to
heat treat; they must do so in order to balance the cost of producing a product with the
performance
demands of the end use application. We add this step to our manufacturing processes because
quite
often we can take an inexpensive raw material and, by heat treating, give it pr