Nitrex provides nitrocarburizing system to New Zealand heat treater

Nitrex, Quebec, has announced that they have provided a nitrocarburizing system to Heat Treatments, a leading provider of commercial heat treatment services in New Zealand and one of Nitrex’s earliest customers.

Heat Treatments’ partnership with Nitrex dates to 1992 when they purchased its first Nitrex system with Nitreg nitriding capabilities. As operations grew, the company later added a second system in 2004 for nitrocarburizing and post-oxidation treatments. Contrary to the first two systems, which are identical pit furnaces, the latest addition, an NXK series, features the furnace and control panel mounted on an integral platform. Delivery, installation, and startup time and costs are reduced with this design. The NXK-812 model is designed to treat workloads weighing up to 1200 kg, with a diameter of 800 mm (31.5″) and a height of 1200 mm (47.25″). The system is equipped with advanced process technologies, including Nitreg-C controlled nitrocarburizing and ONC post-oxidation, which provide precise control and consistent results.

https://www.nitrex.com/

One Minute Mentor: Plasma Nitriding Equipment

Cold-walled (double-walled water-cooled) systems were the first generation of plasma nitriding furnaces. This technology is also a vacuum-based process but employs the principle of glow discharge to provide energy for heating and nitriding at one time. Therefore, the independent control of the temperature stability and the nitriding intensity is not possible because both processes are using the same energy source—the plasma.

The hot-wall plasma nitriding furnaces, the next generation of cold-wall ion nitriding systems, are mainly used and built now. This system ensures optimal nitriding quality by fulfilling the highest demands on temperature and nitriding process control. The big advantage of this technology is the separation of the control of the heating and the plasma nitriding parameters. The heating and temperature control of hot-wall plasma nitriding furnaces is realized by several independent heating/cooling zones, which guarantees optimal temperature homogeneity

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 26.

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

Evolution on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a new multicomponent near-Alpha Titanium Alloy after rolling and heat treatments

Beijing University of Technology, China, presented the microstructure and mechanical properties of a new type of multi-component near-α titanium alloy sheet after rolling, 700°C aging, and 800°C aging in a new paper.

 The results show that the strength of the alloy after aging at 700°C increases from 1156 MPa to 1304 MPa, respectively, but decreases to 1246 MPa with the aging temperature increasing. The ductility of the alloy aged at 700°C is lower than that of the rolled state, but the ductility increases slightly with the aging temperature increasing. The effect of aging heat treatment on the microstructure and precipitation behavior of alloy plates has been studied and compared with alloys before aging. 

After heat treatment, the content of primary α decreases from 25% to 5%, respectively. Two kinds of silicide precipitate at different positions, with the large-size spherical silicide being (Ti, Zr, Nb)5Si3, and the small-size fusiform silicide being (Ti, Zr, Nb)6Si3, respectively. Ti3Al was precipitated in the primary α phase, during the aging process. The silicides exhibit the strengthening effect on the alloy, but the effect weakens when the silicides grow up. The loss in ductility is mainly attributed to the precipitation of the α2 phase after aging treatment. However, ductility is improved after applying higher aging temperatures as the size of the α2 phase becomes smaller, and the distribution of them tends to become dispersed.

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A ‘green’ Seco/Warwick vacuum furnace for wind power plants

Seco/Warwick, Meadville, Pa., has been chosen by a recognized manufacturer of wind power plants to deliver a vertical vacuum furnace designed to perform low-pressure carburizing for the large structural elements (gearboxes) used in wind power plants. 

The solution on order combines the advantages of two technologies: atmospheric and vacuum processing. The furnace is designed for low-pressure carburizing oversized parts, made possible due to a very large, vertical heating chamber, while the furnace pit structure saves space in the production facility. The Pit-LPC technology is a modern alternative to atmosphere carburizing. Its main advantage is the ability to carry out efficient and effective carburizing in a much shorter time than in atmospheric furnaces. The vacuum processing solution provides more than twice the productivity, and consequently lower process costs and a quick investment return.

The main advantage of this furnace is the ability to open the furnace at process temperature at the end of the cycle. This is the advantage of atmospheric furnace technology implemented within a vacuum furnace. This type of solution combines the advantages of an atmospheric furnace with the advantages of a vacuum furnace, which include: elimination of the oxidation effect at the grain boundary, process purity, and heating uniformity. The product solves the problem of high energy and process gas consumption by the partner’s old furnaces, and shortens the carburizing process, which significantly improves efficiency and production costs.

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Lindberg/MPH ships rod overbend box furnace to the manufacturing industry

Lindberg/MPH, Mich., has announced the shipment of a rod overbend box furnace with powered load/unload table to the manufacturing industry. This heat-treating furnace has a maximum temperature rating of 2000°F and a load capacity of 900 lbs. 

The workspace dimensions of the furnace are 24” W x 36” D x 18” H and it is designed for air atmosphere applications. The box furnace features an automated actuator to flip the push/pull mechanism on the load table to eliminate the operators need to manually flip it into push position. This option allows the push/pull head to retract from the furnace once the work grid is in the furnace chamber and increase operator safety by removing the need to reach into the hot furnace with a hook to flip the push/pull head and.

The furnace chamber is heated with a radiant heating system the utilizes heavy gauge alloy rod over-bend heating elements mounted along the side-walls and the floor. The furnace temperature is controlled by an Allen Bradley ControlLogix Programmable Logic Controller that includes digital setpoint and display. A Honeywell DC2500 high limit controller disconnects the power to the heating elements and sounds an audible alarm if the temperature exceeds desired set-point. 

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Lindberg/MPH ships mesh belt conveyor furnace for use with powdered metal

Lindberg/MPH, Mich., has announced the shipment of an electrically heated, full muffle, mesh belt conveyor furnace. This furnace is designed for treating pressed powdered material.

The furnace is designed for applications with a maximum process temperature of 1000° C (1832° F) that utilize a nitrogen or clean dry filtered air process atmosphere. The unit is configured with 9 temperature control zones and includes a water-cooling section. The conveyor system features a 14 inch wide mesh belt with belt stop alarm to provide an audible and visual indication in case of a conveyor stoppage.

There are purge chambers at the entrance and exit of this conveyor furnace. In these chambers purge gas flows from perforated plenum chambers above and below the belt and exhaust stacks with adjustable butterfly valves are located at the inner ends of each chamber. Load and unload tables at the entrance and exit of the conveyor provide ease of product transfer for the operator.

The furnace zone temperatures are controlled by Eurotherm controllers. These controllers have advanced PID control with variable overshoot inhibition. A hi-limit Eurotherm controller guards against over temperature conditions in each zone of temperature control.  A visual and audible alert and removal of power to the heating element occur in the event the monitor temperature exceeds a desired set point. 

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One Minute Mentor: Salt Bath Nitrocarburizing

Salt bath nitrocarburizing is usually performed at temperatures between 560 and 580 °C (1040 to 1075 °F) in cyanate- and carbonate-containing salts with traces of cyanides and furnaces similar to those used for the nitrocarburizing of mechanical compounds. These conditions fit well with the usual tempering temperatures of hot-work tool steels, which form the main field of application of salt bath nitrocarburizing in tooling with treatment times of 15 min to 2 h.

 To guarantee a good reproducible nitriding performance, the cyanate content must be kept at approximately 35% to achieve a full ε-nitride compound layer, which today is usually done by adding a regenerator. The advantages of salt bath nitrocarburizing can be found in the very homogeneous temperature distribution, the fast formation of thick compound layers that give good tribological and corrosion properties, its high flexibility, and he fact that it does not require that any special attention be given to passivation effects. Extrusion dies are regularly treated several times during use to restore the nitride layer at areas of heavy wear.

More recently special salt compositions were developed for lower nitrocarburizing temperatures, which are essential for cold-work tool steels that do have lower tempering temperatures.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 21

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

Can-Eng Furnaces contracted for continuous quench and temper furnace system

Can-Eng Furnaces International Ltd., Niagara, Ontario, was recently contracted to engineer and commission a continuous quench and temper furnace system for a North American producer of mining, construction, and materials handling products. The purchase of this equipment is part of a larger plant expansion and initiative to bring foreign outsourced manufacturing in house.  

This move is not only to improve part quality but also to help eliminate overall shipping costs and reduce supply chain issues which have been plaguing many industries over the past couple of years. This equipment will be part of an automated manufacturing cell and fed automatically from upstream handling equipment. Special considerations have been made to precisely control the quench temperature to reduce hardness variations and improve overall part quality.  

The multizone belt style temper furnace employs high efficiency natural gas fired heating and recirculation systems which have been proven to provide the ultimate in temperature uniformity in even the most demanding of applications.  

 

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Solar Atmospheres of Western PA treats a record load of titanium

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, Hermitage, vacuum degassed a record 175,000 pounds of 6Al-4V titanium in their 48-foot-long vacuum furnace. The furnace load consisted of 154 sheets of titanium 40” wide X 240” long. It represented the largest and heaviest single load of titanium ever processed in Solar’s history.

Bob Hill, president of Solar Atmospheres of Western PA states, “The future of the global aerospace titanium market is very promising with the many opportunities in the commercial and military aircraft markets!”

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One Minute Mentor: Vacuum Furnaces

The demands on vacuum-hardening technology have changed in recent decades. One of the most important considerations that must be met is the accomplishment of highest dimensional stability with optimal microstructural properties and minimal change of the surface of the workpieces. 

Minimizing exposure to air during the heat treatment by reducing the quantity of oxygen in a heat treatment furnace, as with creating a vacuum, is an excellent method for preventing changes in surface appearance and chemical composition.

Suppliers of modern vacuum furnaces are further faced with new demands, such as increasing quenching speed to improve microstructural and mechanical properties by reducing grain size, and enhancing hardness and toughness and/or reducing distortion due to the hardening process. Furthermore, quality standards such as AMS 2750d or North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), which describe temperature homogeneity or quenching speeds and resulting and needed workpiece properties, had a significant effect on furnace design and process control.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 14

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

EndoFlex generator chosen for fastener heat treatment

UPC-Marathon, Quebec,, a Nitrex company, has commissioned a 100 M3H EndoFlex endothermic gas generator for a South American manufacturer of industrial fasteners.

This is a repeat customer that has UPC-Marathon‘s gas panels, flowmeters, oxygen probes, and Protherm plant automation software installed in their heat treatment operations. With the addition of the EndoFlex generator, they will now be able to supply gas to a new continuous mesh belt neutral hardening furnace for the treatment of metal fasteners used in automotive applications.

The customer had the option to choose between a nitrogen-methanol system or an endothermic gas generator for their neutral hardening furnace. After careful consideration, they selected UPC-Marathon’s EndoFlex generator in order to achieve better control and consistency of the process atmosphere. The result is an improved hardening process and higher-quality hardened fasteners, along with reduced operating costs. The EndoFlex mixes ratios more accurately and efficiently, ensuring a constant furnace atmosphere and consistent gas quality, leading to immediate cost savings through reduced electricity and gas consumption and zero waste.

The system was started in March 2023, and its consistent performance has exceeded the customer’s expectations.

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Multi-furnace heat treat project for major steel forger

Nutec Bickley, Mexico, has been awarded a contract to manufacture and install five new lift-up furnaces, along with a fully modernized combustion system, for a leading U.S. manufacturer of high-quality alloy steel and carbon steel closed-die forgings. The project will take place between May and December 2023, with onsite work completed one furnace at a time to ensure the customer’s production schedules are not impacted. Two of the new furnaces will be used for tempering, while the remaining three will be used for austenitizing. Each furnace will be fitted with the latest control systems, complete fiber flues, and new exhaust and pressure control systems, along with insulation.

Nutec Bickley’s state-of-the-art combustion packages will be fully compliant with NFPA 86 standards, incorporating a fuel-only control system to allow maximum temperature uniformity potential for all cycles. The retrofitted furnaces will benefit from high-velocity nozzle mixing burners fitted with high-temperature burner blocks. The combustion systems will also feature automatic air control valves to adjust the maximum air volume used and to ensure proper burner ignition conditions.

The project will involve careful teamwork between the customer and Nutec Bickley to ensure successful delivery and highest quality outcomes. Rodrigo González, VP Metals at Nutec Bickley, emphasized the importance of constant communication and status updates with customers for a dynamic and mutually beneficial project result.

 

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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.

The configuration of a high-performance line involves an entry and exit section of the strip handling equipment (Fig. 10). The hardening section consists of the austenitizing furnace, the molten metal quench or hydrogen quench, and a martensite cooler. Beyond the martensite cooler the strip is martensitic and fully hardened, and then it passes through the tempering section—consisting of a leveling furnace, tempering furnace equipped with an atmosphere recirculation system, and an atmosphere jet cooler—to finally leave the facility, completely flat, with a bright surface finish and tempered to very uniform tensile strength.

For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 10

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

Ipsen repurposes ceramics facility for expanded hot zone production capacity

Ipsen, Pecatonica, Ill., formerly known as Ipsen Ceramics, is expanding its vacuum furnace hot zone assembly. The refurbishments include new lighting, HVAC, roofing, and other interior and exterior upgrades. Located at 325 John Street, less than 30 miles from Ipsen’s Vacuum Technology Excellence Center in Cherry Valley, the factory will initially employ up to eight material assemblers.

Incorporating the Pecatonica location into Ipsen’s vacuum furnace production and aftermarket process will provide added benefits to customers. Jake Hamid, Ipsen’s director and chief Operating Officer, stated that “Our goal is to reduce delivery times and better control the critical phase of assembly.” In the future, Ipsen is considering other manufacturing activities in Pecatonica to supplement the needs of the Vacuum Technology Excellence Center.

The move to repurpose the Pecatonica plant aligns with Ipsen’s commitment to providing high-quality vacuum furnace equipment and services to customers. The company’s dedication to meeting customer needs and reducing delivery times will be further enhanced by this strategic move, ensuring that Ipsen remains a leader in the vacuum furnace industry.

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One Minute Mentor: Nitrocarburizing in a Carrier Gas

Nitrocarburizing in a carrier gas to which (initially solid) urea was added led to a fast growth of the expanded austenite zone. The gaseous decomposition products of urea that develop in the furnace are highly activating, which means that activation and nitrocarburizing are achieved simultaneously.

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Expo sells out for Heat Treat

The ASM Heat Treating Society announced that the exposition for Heat Treat 2015 has sold out for the second time in a row. Hundreds of heat treating companies and gear manufacturers will be displaying their latest and greatest products and services next month at the 28th annual ASM Heat Treating Society Conference and Exposition in Detroit, Michigan.

With over 290 booths on the sold out floor – an increase of over 20 booths from 2013 – attendees will have plenty of opportunities to see the latest technology in action. A new addition this year are scheduled live demonstrations on the expo floor, which will educate attendees about new equipment in a hands-on way. Other exciting events happening on the show floor are plenary talk from Dr. Alan Taub of the LIFT consortium on Tuesday afternoon, and the exhibitor reception on Tuesday evening. Exhibitors are encouraged to invite their clients and prospects to attend, particularly if they are local.

Heat Treat 2015 is a biannual conference recognized by industry, academia and government professionals as the premier heat treating gathering in North America. This year it is taking placing in Detroit Michigan, a place with deep roots in heat treating and the birthplace of the ASM Heat Treat Society.

To see a list of the exhibitors, visit this page.

To register for Heat Treat 2015, visit here on the Heat Treat event website.