Your metal parts may not be operating at their most reliable or most suited to your needs. With a little help from heat treating in Gastonia, NC, however, you could be getting better use from your metal parts.
What is heat treating?
Simply put, heat treating is a process through which the physical (and sometimes chemical) properties of a given metal are changed to suit an industrial purpose. The given shape into which a piece of metal has been molded isn’t changed, only its makeup.
Of course, there’s more to heat treating in Gastonia, NC than merely sticking a metal part in an industrial oven. Given your specific situation, various types of heat treatment can serve your needs.
Annealing
There are two primary means of heat treatment. The first is annealing, which focuses on making physical changes to the internal and external structure of your metal part.
The first step in annealing, “quenching,” occurs after a metal piece’s core temperature is raised above a critical point. That temperature is sustained until the metal becomes harder. Once this change has occurred, the metal part is plunged into a vat of cool water, so its new, tougher chemical structure can be fixed into place.
After a part has been quenched, it is then tempered to remove any of the brittleness that can come about as a result of the quenching process. In fact, the tempering process can be customized based on the client’s needs to make the metal sturdier or more malleable.
Once a metal part has been quenched and tempered, stress relieving removes defects that may have arisen during the annealing process.
Case hardening
The second kind of heat treating is case hardening, the process by which the actual chemical structure of your metal part is changed. Just like its name would imply, the goal of case hardening is to create a denser, wear-resistant outer coating for your metal part. If you’re looking to instill in your metal piece a more scratch- and dent-resistant surface, case hardening is perfect.
This is typically done in one of two ways: either through carburization or through nitriding. Carburization works for metals with low carbon content. Nitriding, meanwhile, works on a massive selection of metals.
Let the pros help
There are numerous ways in which a talented professional can use heat treating in Gastonia, NC to improve the performance and durability of your metal parts. All you have to do is contact the right pro. In our region, that means placing a call to J.F. Heat Treating Inc.
Since we opened our doors all the way back in 1980, our family owned and operated business has worked tirelessly to meet the needs of every customer who walks through our door. It’s our dedication to high-quality workmanship and customer service that sets us apart from the crowd. We offer a comprehensive assortment of heat treating services, including annealing, aging, hardening, quenching, tempering and so much more. Find out how J.F. Heat Treating Inc. can help you. Give us a call today!