Fort Wayne Metals partners Habitat for Humanity

Fort Wayne Metals, Fort Wayne, IN, announced that it partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne to construct panels for two local homes.

Over 100 Fort Wayne Metals employees participated in the on-site panel build at the company’s campus on Thursday. This marks the fourth consecutive year of collaboration, resulting in the construction of seven homes since 2020. The initiative has grown from one home per year in 2020, 2021, and 2022, to two homes in both 2023 and 2024.

Christine Lyons, Habitat for Humanity Gifts Manager, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “Fort Wayne Metals provides its employees with a unique opportunity to make a direct impact by allowing them to contribute during their workday.”

Employees were able to volunteer during one-hour panel-building sessions held throughout the day. The efforts resulted in panels for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home and a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, both of which will be ready for families by late fall in the Renaissance Pointe neighborhood.

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Wisconsin Oven ships small batch oven to Canadian manufacturer

Wisconsin Oven, East Troy, WI, announced the international shipment of an electrically heated small batch oven to a Canadian manufacturer of automotive components. The oven, designed for curing parts, has a maximum temperature rating of 650°F and chamber dimensions of 4’ W x 4’ L x 4’ H. Prior to shipment, the oven’s temperature uniformity of ± 10°F was verified through a nine-point profile test conducted in an empty chamber under static conditions.

The unit features patented high-efficiency panel seams for improved insulation, a 4” thick insulated floor, and two carbon steel shelves for part loading, each rated for 5 pounds per square foot. It utilizes combination airflow for optimal heating rates and uniformity, with temperature controlled by a Watlow F4T digital controller, featuring a touch screen, PID control, and Ethernet communication.

The oven also includes a process timer with an audible alarm, ensuring consistent curing and part quality.

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Wisconsin Oven ships electrically heated drop bottom furnace to the aerospace industry

Wisconsin Oven, East Troy, WI, announces that it has shipped an Electrically Heated Drop Bottom Furnace with a traveling quench tank and maintenance platform to the aerospace industry. This system will be used for the solution heat treatment of aluminum parts.

The drop bottom furnace has a maximum operating temperature of 1,100°F and effective workspace dimensions of 3’6” W x 3’6” L x 4’0” H. An OSHA-compliant maintenance platform provides ease of access for personnel to service the equipment. The quench tank has a capacity of approximately 1,700 gallons and includes fluid level control (low, fill, high), a lockable water drain port at the bottom of the tank, and an agitator for water circulation. The traveling quench tank is enclosed with safety fencing for added safety during operation.

This drop bottom furnace is designed with sufficient capacity to heat 600 pounds of aluminum per load and provide a quench delay that does not exceed 5 seconds. The system also includes a slow drop speed program for heating applications that do not require a quench. A video of this system in operation can be viewed online.

“This drop bottom furnace was designed with a 5-second quench delay and a temperature uniformity of +/- 5°F at the set points 850°F and 1,100°F. Additionally, the system was tested to be in compliance with AMS 2750F, Class 1 furnaces, and Instrumentation Type C prior to shipment from our manufacturing facility,” said Mike Grande, Vice President of Sales.

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One Minute Mentor: Distortion in Tool Steels

Some of the main interactions  that occur during the heat treatment of steel alloys including temperature, microstructure, and stress/strain. Especially for tool steels these interactions are mainly influenced by the carbon content in the steel matrix, the types and relative amounts of the alloying elements, and the carbide formation/transformation/precipitation characteristics of the alloy system.

Heat treatment involves changes of temperature with time, which determine changes in microstructure. The rate of temperature change results in a change of microstructure which is described by phase transformation kinetics, as in e.g. TTT (time-temperature-transformation) diagrams; every phase transformation releases/absorbs latent heat, which influences the temperature field. An inhomogeneous temperature distribution, i.e. temperature gradients, within the tool during heat treatment can generate thermal stresses that lead to plastic deformation, if the yield strength of the material at that temperature is exceeded. Every mechanical deformation generates heat which, in turn, influences the temperature field. Furthermore, there is an interaction between the stress state and the microstructure. Phase transformations can result in micro-plastic deformation, which can be globally described using transformation plasticity models.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 2. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014  https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005980

 

Harper International Receives Order for Scientific Line for Pitch Carbon Fiber

Harper International, Buffalo, NY, announces that it has been awarded a contract to engineer and manufacture a Scientific Line for the production of Bitumen Pitch Carbon, which will be installed at Alberta Innovates, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The facility will be operated by InnoTech Alberta, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alberta Innovates. The equipment delivery and start-up services are scheduled for 2025.

This pilot-scale equipment will be used by researchers as part of the Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge launched by Alberta Innovates. The challenge aims to accelerate the development of large-scale production pathways for short and continuous carbon fiber from bitumen-derived feedstocks. Phase III of the competition will allow projects to demonstrate, in a repeatable manner, the ability to manufacture carbon fiber, incorporate it into prototypes, and understand the techno-economics associated with the designed process.

“Harper is pleased to support Alberta Innovates Carbon Fibre Grand Challenge to successfully create an alternative carbon fiber precursor with our customized Scientific Line. Carbon fiber from bitumen-derived precursor will significantly lower the price and have a smaller environmental impact,” says Briana Tom, Harper Sales Engineer.

Harper International is a world leader in thermal processing solutions for advanced materials. This latest contract highlights their commitment to innovation and supporting sustainable advancements in material science.

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Seco Vacuum delivers Vector Furnace to major automotive supplier in Mexico

Seco Vacuum, Meadville, PA, announces that an international Tier 1 automotive supplier headquartered in the USA has ordered a Vector vacuum furnace for one of their facilities in Mexico.

The Vector 15VP furnace is capable of a variety of thermal processes. Its hot zone measures 36x36x48 inches (900x900x1200 mm) and has a 3,300 lb. (1500 kg) capacity. It features convection heating and a mechanical vacuum pump system, meeting or exceeding the specifications necessary for the production line’s brazing process.

Typically, SECO/VACUUM furnaces are custom-engineered; however, this particular furnace was fabricated ahead of time as a stock item to meet the contingency of a customer requesting immediate delivery. This strategic move allowed the heat treat partner to quickly and seamlessly ramp up production capacity. Additionally, if production demand shifts, the new Vector vacuum furnace can be easily repurposed for other heat treat processes, offering significant versatility.

“We built this furnace to be ready to be shipped and put into operation very quickly, which is just the solution they were looking for,” said SECO/VACUUM Managing Director Piotr Zawistowski.

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Can-Eng announces expansion with subsidiary Evergreen Kiln Technologies

EvergreenKilnTechnologies, LLC, based in Niagara Falls, USA, together with Suzhou Kilnpartner Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd., based in China, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at addressing the burgeoning needs of the North American Lithium-ion battery market. This alliance is poised to offer battery material producers advanced Kiln System solutions tailored for the production of cathode (LFP, NMC) and anode active materials.

As part of the arrangement, EvergreenKilnTechnologies LLC will function as a subsidiary under Can-Eng Furnaces International LTD., leveraging Can-Eng’s extensive 60-year expertise in designing and developing bespoke thermal processing systems.

The partnership extends across various domains, including marketing, brand collaboration, technology development, production, engineering, and after-sales services. The primary objective is to innovate thermal processing methods for battery powders, ensuring that the collaborative venture can deliver superior kiln solutions to clients across North America.

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Researchers overcome manufacturing challenges in aluminum alloys with nano-treatment

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, have achieved a significant breakthrough in the field of metal additive manufacturing (AM), specifically with Al–Cu alloys like AA2024, which are prevalent in the aerospace and automotive industries. 

These alloys are known for their high strength and good fatigue resistance but have been notoriously difficult to work with in additive manufacturing due to issues like hot cracking and other solidification defects.

The UCLA team has successfully developed a nano-treated AA2024 deposition that incorporates TiC nanoparticles, leading to a groundbreaking enhancement in the manufacturing process. This new method allows for the additive manufacturing of AA2024 without the occurrence of cracks, a common issue that has hindered broader adoption of these materials in high-precision sectors.

Microstructural analysis conducted by the researchers reveals that the TiC nanoparticles not only reduce the susceptibility to hot cracking but also refine and homogenize the grain structure of the alloy. The grains were significantly refined to an average size of 23.2 ± 0.4 μm. This refinement contributes to the material’s enhanced properties, including its mechanical performance.

These findings highlight the potential of nano-treatment techniques in overcoming the longstanding challenges associated with high-strength aluminum in additive manufacturing. This advancement not only paves the way for more reliable production of critical components in aerospace and automotive applications but also promises to expand the capabilities and applications of metal additive manufacturing technology.

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DENSO company and Furukawa initiate demonstration to expand automotive recycling process

Furukawa Electric, Japan and other partners have been chosen by an industry-government-academia collaborative project aiming to expand the recycle content for automobile in the fiscal year 2023 supported by Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

The project, titled “Demonstration of Manufacturing-and-Recycling Integrated Process for Horizontal Cycle Enabled by Automated Sophisticated Dismantling of ELVs, (end-of-life vehicles)” has begun in early March and is scheduled to conclude by the end of January 2025.

In recent years, the automotive industry has sought to transition to a circular economy to achieve a more sustainable society. In the effort, it is necessary to significantly expand the use of recycled materials in automotive products, helping reduce the need for freshly cultivated natural resources.

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Cirtec Medical opens West Coast Center of Excellence

Cirtec Medical,  South Burlington, Vt, is scheduled to open its new state-of-the-art Medical Device Design & Manufacturing Facility in Santa Clara, CA, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. The opening of this center represents a  milestone in the medical device industry, highlighting Cirtec Medical’s commitment to innovation and advancement in healthcare technology. The facility will showcase the latest in medical device development across several key areas, including cardiovascular, neurologic, active orthopedics, and precision components. Through hands-on demonstrations, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the forefront of medical technology and its application in improving patient care.

The Santa Clara facility is designed to facilitate collaboration and innovation among Cirtec Medical’s teams of engineers, researchers, and healthcare professionals. By investing in this advanced manufacturing and design center, Cirtec Medical aims to accelerate the development of medical devices that address pressing healthcare challenges. This initiative not only underlines Cirtec Medical’s role in pushing the boundaries of medical device technology but also contributes to the local economy by creating new jobs in the high-tech sector. The opening of this facility marks an important step forward in the company’s mission to enhance patient outcomes through technological innovation.

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One Minute Mentor: Salt Bath Furnaces

The salt bath method of hardening is predominant with high-speed steel tools. With correct operating conditions, tools can be heat treated without carburization, decarburization, and scaling. The surface will be fully hard with a minimum of distortion. The four types of salt baths generally used are preheating baths, high-temperature baths, quenching baths, and tempering baths.

Molten salts of various compositions are well adapted to all operations in the heat treatment of tool steels. For tools that cannot be ground after hardening or for tools that require an excellent surface condition and the maintenance of sharp edges, salt bath heating provides excellent results. These salt baths contain different compositions of BaCl2, NaCl2, and KCl as well as additional additives to avoid decarburization. The higher the working temperature, the higher the content of BaCl2 usually is. Higher additions of CaCl2 are typically used in salt baths for the quenching step.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 2.

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Special fasteners to be processed in a Seco/Warwick vacuum furnace

Seco/Warwick, Meadville, Pa., will deliver a  Vector vacuum furnace to a plant producing highly advanced fasteners for the largest manufacturers in the aerospace industry. 

The machine will process self-locking nuts, nut plates, barrel nuts, stud nuts, spline nuts, clamp nuts, as well as a wide range of washers and flanges. The Italian Partner is an innovator in the field of comprehensive fastening solutions. The Vector furnace will become part of a modern production plant, increasing not only its efficiency, but also guaranteeing thermally treated fasteners of the highest quality.

The furnace on order is a standard solution perfectly suited to aviation industry needs. Thanks to a very refined design without any additional modifications, the furnace will perform at high operating temperatures, up to 1300°C.

The furnace on order is equipped with a dew point sensor for each of the gases. It is a system solving one of heat treatment’s very critical requirements, which is to control the quality/purity of the gas used during the process. Vector also features a partial pressure control system which helps prevent evaporation and sublimation of alloying elements from the load surface during the vacuum heat treatment.

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Steel Dynamics named one of America’s best employers for women by Forbes

Steel Dynamics, Fort Wayne, Ind., has been named one of America’s Best Employers for Women for 2023 by Forbes. Steel Dynamics was the only steel producer receiving this designation.

“We are appreciative and honored by this recognition,” said Mark D. Millett, chairman and chief executive officer. “Our people are the foundation of our success and our most important resource. We strive to create a welcoming, open, and inclusive environment. We value our team members, creating meaningful opportunities for growth, leadership development, and career advancement. We believe empowering our people and providing them with the necessary tools for success creates significant value for everyone and will drive our continued success.”

Forbes partnered with Statista to compile the list of America’s Best Employers for Women. Statista surveyed over 60,000 U.S. employees working for companies with a minimum of 1,000 employees. More than 40,000 women were asked to rate their company in areas such as working environment, salary and employee diversity, and then whether they would recommend their company to a friend or family member.

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Nitrex installs nitriding system at Akademi Metalurji

Nitrex Vacuum, Quebec, has installed a turnkey nitriding system at Akademi Metalurji, a full-service commercial heat-treating solutions provider located in Turkey. The project includes a mid-sized pit-type furnace, advanced controls, three process technologies along with accelerated cooling. 

The decision to invest in a new nitriding system was driven by the company’s objective to overcome efficiency and quality challenges faced with their previous furnace at the Gebze facility. The prior system consumed excessive amounts of process gases and yielded inconsistent nitriding results. With the addition of a Nitrex NX-1015 pit furnace, Akademi Metalurji can now save on process gases and production time, while also expanding their heat treatment capabilities to accommodate wider-dimensioned parts. The nitriding furnace offers an effective work zone of 39” diameter by 59” high (1000 x 1500 mm) and can handle a load of up to 4400 lbs. (2000 kg). The supplied library of Nitreg-based recipes is tailored to meet different application requirements, resulting in a hardened surface that is highly wear-resistant. For applications like machinery components, tooling, dies, and molds, where Akademi Metalurji specializes, Nitreg delivers improved tooling performance, ensuring longer service life and higher throughput. Ultimately, this leads to tool cost savings for their customers.

The system was successfully installed at the Gebze facility, located southeast of Istanbul, and commenced operations in April 2023. Since then, it has been running smoothly, delivering excellent results.

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Quintus Technologies supplies high pressure Flexform press to airframe manufacturer

Quintus Technologies, Vasteras, Sweden, announced that they will supply a high pressure fluid cell press to France’s LAUAK Group, a Tier 1 supplier to the aerospace industry. The press will be installed at the LAUAK Aerostructures factory in Grandola, Portugal, in September 2023. 

Reaffirming its continued commitment to productivity enhancement, LAUAK selected the Quintus model QFC 0.7×1.8-800 press with high pressure technology to bolster its manufacturing efficiency. “The forming press is undoubtedly at the heart of sheet metal production,” says Mikel Charritton, LAUAK Group Managing Director. “Especially in the context of the current aerospace ramp-up, in particular the A320, A350, and B737 programs, LAUAK’s capital equipment investments are strongly influenced by the imperatives of competitiveness. This press significantly increases and secures our production capacity.” Quintus’s proprietary hydroforming process requires only one rigid tool half, an innovation that not only generates significant tool cost savings but also eliminates several forming operations, intermediate heat treatments, and operator dependencies. 

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One Minute Mentor: Gas nitriding equipment

Gas nitriding and nitrocarburizing can be processed in horizontal or vertical chamber furnaces with refractory insulation. However, to allow a quick change of the atmosphere and to avoid influences resulting from previous processes in the same furnace, retort furnaces are preferred.

To enable an acceptable production capacity, large vertical retort furnaces are used. The figure is a schematic sketch of a vertical retort furnace with a compensator for sealing against the atmosphere. Nowadays large horizontal retort furnaces are also used. Horizontal retort furnaces of different size and execution are preferred for nitrocarburizing processes. Similar to the vertical execution, a good circulation of the process gas is needed to get uniform results, which can be reached by the use of a muffle and a high circulation rate. Indirect cooling is performed with an external cooling fan, blowing cold air along the retort. Other designs allow direct cooling of the process gas with an external heat exchanger.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 23

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; H. Altena; T. Müller; P. Seemann, Processes and Furnace Equipment for Heat Treating of Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Wisconsin oven completes spray quench aluminum solution furnace for the defense industry

Wisconsin Oven, East Troy, Wis. announced the completion of a Horizontal Spray Quench Furnace for C/A Design located in Dover, NH. This furnace will be used for the solution treatment of aluminum. The system is designed to soak the product load at temperature in the furnace and then a pusher mechanism rapidly moves the load into the spray quench. The spray quench offers reduced distortion in comparison to submersion quenching.

The maximum temperature for this system is 1,150°F and it has sufficient capacity to heat a 200 pound aluminum load plus the work grid and product fixture. A temperature uniformity survey was documented for +/-10°F at 985°F to verify the furnace has the capability to meet AMS 2750G, Class 2 furnace and Instrumentation Type D requirements.

The spray quench is located in front of the oven and has vertical-lift, pneumatically operated doors on each end. The spray quench system utilizes fifty (50) fine mist nozzles located above, below, and on each side of the quench chamber to rapidly cool the product from all sides. Each nozzle is independently selectable from the touchscreen HMI and a variable frequency drive allows the pump speed to be adjusted to maintain a constant pressure to each spray nozzle. 

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Seco/Warwick furnace to process Jet Engine components

Seco/Warwick, Meadville, PA, has developed a system to perform clean brazing processes in high vacuum as efficiently as possible, ensuring the highest protection of the treated part surfaces. The solution will be used to process jet engine components.

The German Partner carries out comprehensive repairs of technologically advanced jet engines. The company also has a research center which develops innovative repair techniques for various types of components and entire engines. The group employs several thousand qualified employees in various locations around the world and is a leader among companies repairing and providing full service MRO for jet engines. The purchase of a vertical vacuum furnace will improve production processes and significantly increase the commercial heat treater’s efficiency.

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Processing of nano-reinforced aluminum hybrid metal matrix composites and the effect of post-heat treatment: a review

A review from the School of Engineering and Technology, India, describes the increasing demand for cutting-edge materials with a high strength-to-weight ratio and economic considerations. Lightweight materials such as aluminum (Al) and its alloys are attractive, but some properties such as low thermal stability and high wear rate limit the application of aluminum alloys (AA) to some extent. Many researchers have developed various composites to get around these restrictions and increase the performance of aluminum and its alloy. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) with nanoparticles have revealed greater mechanical and tribological properties compared with micron-sized reinforcements. This review summarizes the latest developments in this field.

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One Minute Mentor: Controlled Atmosphere Furnace Equipment

Heat treatment of tool steels usually requires high flexibility combined with small lots of parts. Seal quench furnaces, executed with a single heating chamber, meet this demand. Figure 5 shows a typical schematic of a single-chamber furnace, executed with a pre-chamber, which is used both for loading and unloading and also for oil quenching or gas cooling. Another execution is shown in Fig. 6, where the load is fed directly into the heating chamber (left side in the drawing). In this case the load is transported through the furnace and received after oil quenching on the right-hand side.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 5.

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Nitrex and Linde renew their 13-year collaboration

Nitrex, Quebec, and Linde are celebrating their 13-year collaboration, which today covers Europe and North America. Nitrex said that this partnership emphasizes both companies’ positioning in terms of technology, digital, and green footprints. 

The cooperation between Linde (previously Praxair) and UPC-Marathon, a Nitrex company, began in the USA in 2010, when Linde approached UPC-Marathon to build gas panels. Eventually, the company started sending some of its clients who needed technical support in UPC’s direction.

Nitrex supplies Linde with equipment and analyses to control gas atmospheres, thanks to its competence in heat treatment and electrical fields, technical solutions, support, and world-class gas panels.

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Ipsen ships Turbo Treater vacuum furnace to commercial heat treater in Mexico

Ipsen, Tainan City, Taiwan, has shipped a vacuum furnace to Tratamientos Termicos Avanzados (TTA) in Mexico. Translated to “Advanced Heat Treatments,” TTA is a leader in plasma nitriding services for steel. They serve many industries and boast a clientele that includes John Deere, Caterpillar and Nissan.

Looking to expand their capabilities by adding vacuum processing to their commercial heat-treating business, they chose an Ipsen Turbo2Treater for its process flexibility. The new furnace has a work zone size of 24” x 24” x 36”, 1,600 lb. weight capacity, 2,400 °F maximum operating temperature, and quench pressure up to 12 bar. It will mainly be used for hardening tool steels but can easily be adapted to meet new customers’ needs.

TTA chose Ipsen for their ability to lead them in the right direction to grow their business.

https://ipsenglobal.com/knowledge-center/ipsen-ships-vacuum-furnace-to-heat-treater-in-mexico/

Constellium’s operations in Muscle Shoals and Bowling Green certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI)

Constellium, Pairs, announced that it has received the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard certificate for its facilities in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and Bowling Green, Kentucky. This certification, verified by an independent third-party audit, means that the plants operate according to a strict set of governance, environmental, and social standards, including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and labor rights.

The Constellium Muscle Shoals plant is a major aluminium cansheet supplier for the packaging market with over 450,000 metric tons of finished aluminium coils per year. The facility also produces aluminium automotive coils, which are processed at the Bowling Green plant. Muscle Shoals’ world-class recycling center is able to recycle the equivalent of 20 billion aluminium cans per year. Constellium’s Bowling Green plant produces flat rolled aluminium Auto Body Sheet products for the automotive market, with a capacity to produce 100,000 metric tons annually.

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One Minute Mentor: Fluidized Bed

A fluid bed results when a gas is passed upward through a bed of small solid particles at a rate fast enough to lift these particles and to create turbulence. This motion of particles, which are usually made of aluminum oxide or silica oxide, is similar to that of a fluid, which can be seen schematically in the figure.

When gas is forced upward through small holes in a supporting plate, two forces meet to raise the particles: the buoyancy of the gas and the retarding force known as aerodynamic drag. Objects to be heat treated are immersed directly into the bed of particles.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 7.

R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014, https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958

Three from Aalberts Surface Technologies included in this years 40 under 40

Aalberts Technologies, Livonia, announced today that Angella Sell, Connor Montgomery, and Chris Pietszak are members of Heat Treat Today’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2023. The Heat Treat Today 40 Under 40 award recognizes rising leaders in the heat treat community who are giving their time, talent, and education to make the industry a great place to work.

Angella Sell, Research & Development Engineer, is a proven leader, having chaired the ASM Detroit Chapter from June 2020 to June 2021. In 2022 Angella received the ASM Detroit Chapter President’s Award for her leadership role during the challenging pandemic years. Angella is the vice-chair of the AFS Cast Iron Research Committee and will assume the role of chair in May 2024. 

Connor Montgomery, Oshkosh Plant Manager, is focused on hiring and retention practices as well on effective communications. Connor is leading major efforts to improve flow, efficiency, and throughput in the Oshkosh plant. He has introduced the use of modern lean tools such as 5S, FIFO, and Supermarkets to reduce unproductive manhours. He is actively involved in the reduction of additional waste within plant processing. 

Chris Pietszak, Quality Manager, is focsed on the implementation of and support of ISO, IATF, and Nadcap as well as CQI-9 compliance. He is a trained ISO and IATF auditor and an MTI YES Program graduate. Chris played an important role implementing the quality systems during the start-up of the Fort Smith facility. 

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One Minute Mentor: Continuous Operating Furnaces for Tool Steel Strips

The continuous heat treatment of tool steel is applied to low- or medium-alloyed carbon steel strips as well as martensitic stainless steels. The described lines produce high-quality strip with respect to uniform structure, flatness, and bright surface finish. Steel grades with 0.4 to 1.2% C, low and high alloyed, can be processed. 

Strip dimensions range between 10 to 750 mm (0.4 to 29.5 in.) wide and 0.05 to 4 mm (0.002 to 0.16 in.) thick. High quenching rates are necessary, especially for plain carbon steels. Cooling gradients of up to 600 K/s are possible in a molten lead-bismuth quench. Because two-stage quenching technology provides considerable advantages over quenching in oil, this method has been adopted worldwide. It is also possible to achieve isothermal transformation to bainite and pearlite using a molten metal quench, so this type of hardening and tempering line is extremely versatile.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 9. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014  https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005958