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Why You Need Heat Treat Metal

Heat treatment is a process used to change a material’s physical or chemical properties. Many industries use heat-treated metal for various purposes. From automobiles to aerospace, heat treatment is used everywhere to achieve better performance from the metal. Sometimes people often think it is not important. However, after the heat treatment, the metal is processed, the metal becomes more solid, and the structure of the metal improves. Therefore it’s more suitable for some specific application products.

The Process of Heat Treatment

The most common method of heat treatment is called annealing. This involves heating the metal to a high temperature and then allowing it to cool slowly. This process makes the metal more ductile and less likely to break. Annealing is often used on custom sheet metal that is going to be worked, such as steel.

Heat treatment is going on

Hardening is the process of making metal harder. This is usually done by heating the metal to a high temperature and then cooling it quickly. This process makes the metal more resistant to wear and tear. Hardening is often used on metals that are going to be used in high-stress applications, such as gears.

Tempering is a process of heat treatment that is used to improve the toughness of metal. This is done by heating the metal to a high temperature and then cooling it slowly. This process makes the metal less likely to break. Tempering is often used on metals that are going to be used in high-stress applications, such as tools.

You must manage the heat treatment process very carefully to get the desired outcome. The process is typically performed in a furnace. The metal is heated to the desired temperature and then held at that temperature for a period of time. The metal is then cooled to the desired temperature.

What are the Benefits of Heat Treat Metal? 

Heat treat metals have many benefits. 

Strength

By heating and cooling the metal in a controlled way, the metal’s grain structure is altered, making it stronger and less likely to deform. That’s why heat treatment is applied to create metal alloys that are more durable and stronger than the original constituent parts

Hardness

Metal can become harder when heat treatment changes the microstructure. Also, the metal becomes more wear and tear-resistant. This is why heat treatment is often used to create tools and components that will be subject to high levels of stress and wear 

Ductility

Ductility is the ability of a metal to deform under stress without breaking. While heat treatment can make the metal harder and stronger, it can also make the metal more ductile by changing the microstructure. 

Wear resistance

Wear resistance is the ability of a metal to resist damage from friction and wear. Heat treatment can improve the wear resistance of metal by changing its microstructure and making it harder. This is important for structural shapes like angle stock products.

The Metal Heat Treatment application in the Automotive industry

Here are the top applications of metal heat treatment in the automotive industry: 

Engine and Powertrain

The engine and transmission must handle high temperatures, chemicals that break down metal, wear and tear, and normal engine operations.

Important auto parts that can benefit from heat treatment to increase their longevity are:

  • Shafts
  • Hubs
  • Pinions
  • Pistons and valves
  • Retainers
  • Support arms
  • Gears

Drivetrain & Wheels 

The drive system of a vehicle is built primarily to drive the vehicle forward. A vehicle’s drive system is only as good as the strength and durability of its individual parts.

Some of these components are:

  • Differential case and pins
  • Hub annulus
  • Friction plates
  • Axle shafts

Brakes

Wear, corrosion, and pollution are particularly hazardous to brakes. Most automobiles use hydraulic brake fluid, which accelerates the deterioration of brake system components by making them more porous and prone to rust and corrosion. The structural integrity of a vehicle’s brakes is also crucial to the safety of the vehicle and its passengers.

A heat treatment process typically follows the installation of brake pads. Typically the followings need heat treatment of brakes: 

  • Brake web
  • Caliper piston

Suspension, Chassis,  and Steering

When checking out used cars for sale, keep an eye out for any signs of heat treatments. Because of their constant exposure to the elements and the potential for damage from road debris, the suspension and steering systems require extra care.

These vital parts are kept intact with the help of heating therapies, which are:

  • Seating
  • Arm lever
  • Torsion bars
  • Pins and fasteners
  • Ball studs

Conclusion

Now, we hope you know why heat treatment is so important, especially for the automobile industry. Most parts of a car depend on this method. But it is a delicate process and needs years of experience. Therefore, you should pick a company who has decent years of experience in this field. We hope all the very best for your next project.