Benefits of Vacuum Heat Treatment

Three of the great benefits of vacuum heat treatment are:

• Parts emerge ready for further forming
• Parts emerge without scaling or discoloration
• Parts require no further cleaning

It takes a vacuum heat treatment furnace to achieve these results. Essentially, parts are positioned in a special chamber. Oxygen is removed from the chamber and replaced with (usually) argon gas. The chamber is heated to up as much as 2400 degrees F. at a controlled rate, and then the temperature is lowered. “Soak” time depends on the “recipe” for the part and the particular material it is made of. A vacuum heat treatment cycle takes three to 24 hours and sometimes longer. The process is computer controlled to insure uniformity and repeatability.

Vacuum Heat Treatment Applications

Metal parts that require vacuum heat treatment are parts that must withstand high heat and stress in actual operation—airplane engine and exhaust parts, parts used in land based generators, and auto racing bell housings, for example.

These are difficult parts to form in the first place and may take several forming operations to achieve the final part. The benefit of vacuum heat treatment here is that it can take a part which needs further forming and soften the part so that it is ready for more. Many of Jones Metal’s vacuum heat treatment orders are for softening or stress relieving to prepare the part for further forming. Parts also can be made tougher and stronger with vacuum heat treatment, but that is a separate application.

Materials which are used to form the kinds of parts listed above all respond well to vacuum heat treatment. They include the super-alloys (heat resistant materials based on nickel, iron-nickel, and cobalt-nickel), reactive and refractory materials (Haynes types and titanium), and various grades of stainless steel. Metal parts in some musical instruments made of brass and bronze also require vacuum heat treatment.

These materials also respond well to the controlled environment of the treatment process.  Parts emerge from heat treatment without scaling or discoloration and require no further cleaning, polishing, or washing procedures before the next operation.

Vacuum Heat Treatment and Jones Metal

Jones Metal’s vacuum heat treating operation is accredited by NADCAP and is ISO 9001 certified. Jones Metal prides itself on quality service and fast response times. The goal is to turn heat treat orders, including vacuum heat treatment orders, around in one week. For more information on vacuum heat treatment, contact Jones Metal today.

Sources:

• Vacuum Furnace—Wikipedia
• Operation and Maintenance Manual, Vacuum Furnace Systems Corporation
• Heat Treater’s Guide, ASM International (2010)
• Ed Myers, Operations Manager, Jones Metal Products Company

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