The benefits of heat treatment of metals Heat treatment can make the final product more efficient in performing its tasks and more resistant to wear, and therefore more competitive. So below we list the benefits of heat treatment of metals. 1. Increase in strength and toughness Heat treatment can change the microstructure of a metal, reduce grain size and increase grain number; under certain conditions, the crystal structure of the grains can also change (polymorphic transformation), which leads to changes in the mechanical properties of the metal. For example, during quenching, a metal is heated to a high temperature and then rapidly cooled. This leads to crystal size and the formation of martensite, a microstructure with densely packed atoms that is the basis of hardened metal alloys. This structure provides greater hardness and strength of the metal. Another way to increase metal strength is to temper it. After quenching, the metal is heated to a certain temperature and then cooled. This process reduces the excessive stiffness of the metal that can occur after quenching and preserves its strength. There are also many other heat treatment methods that can affect the microstructure of the metal and its mechanical properties. For example, the heating and cooling cycle can be changed to achieve the desired result. The result of properly applied heat treatment processes can increase the tensile strength of steel by up to 50%. 2. Heat treatment can make steel softer There is nothing paradoxical here. Changing the modes in the heating and cooling cycle can have a significant impact on the final result, so it is clear that levers of influence on the material structure can be applied in such a way as to achieve lower metal strength if this is the desired outcome. An example of this is hardening the surface of the metal while allowing the metal deeper in the product to remain soft. thus creating a thin layer of hard metal on the outside. This soft core makes the part resistant to breakage, absorbing stresses without cracking, while providing adequate wear resistance to the surface of the part. 3. Increased flexibility, reduced brittleness One of the heat treatment methods for increasing the flexibility of metal is tempering. It is usually performed after metal hardening to reduce its rigidity and increase its flexibility. During quenching, the metal is heated to a high temperature and cooled rapidly to change its microstructure and increase its strength. However, this process can also make the metal brittle and easily breakable. Tempering is accomplished by heating the metal to a moderate temperature (typically 300 °C or 572 °F) and holding it at that temperature for a period of time. This process reduces the stiffness and increases the flexibility, ductility, and strength of the metal sample. Tempering is used in applications where it is important to have a metal that has a certain level of strength but is flexible and ductile enough to avoid tearing or brittleness during service. This procedure can also relieve stress and facilitate further machining. 4. Increased wear resistance Gears, shafts, cutters, bearings, car body parts, tools, such as jackhammers, are just a short list of products where hardened metal adds extra strength and wear resistance, allowing them to operate under high stress without losing their functional properties. Heat treatment operations increase resistance to fatigue, allowing such steel components to work more efficiently over a longer period of time. Extremely hard steels are often used as cutting tools that require sharp edges - heat treatment here is a critical operation to achieve long service life and shape retention. As noted, hard surfaces with ductile base materials can also be produced by heat treatment. Therefore, heat treatment returns a significant economic benefit due to the long service life of the resulting products. 5. Surface modification In the process of heat treatment of metal, the surface may come into contact with air or other external gases and coolants at different temperatures. This inevitably leads to changes in its properties, which is also used in metalworking. In the case hardening process, metal is heated to high temperatures in an atmosphere of gas containing carbon (endothermic gas, natural gas, etc.) or nitrogen (ammonia), which react with the metal's surface to harden it. This process results in a hard, wear-resistant surface layer that also improves corrosion and abrasion resistance, while the core is relatively strong, allowing the steel to withstand impact loads. 6. Changes in thermal conductivity The smaller the grain, the greater the thermal conductivity. An increase in the thermal conductivity of a metal is usually a side effect of heat treatment aimed at increasing the hardness of the metal. However, when thermal conductivity is a key property, quenching can be used to improve it in a targeted manner. For aluminum alloys used in the creation of radiators, the method of secondary phase hardening - planar hardening - is used. This method involves heat treatment of the alloy in such a way that secondary phases are formed in it, arranged in the form of flat dislocation walls. These walls provide excellent thermal conductivity of the material. 7. Changes in electrical conductivity Reducing the grain size in general also improves electrical conductivity. Therefore, quenching and tempering methods are used in the creation of wires, contacts, soldering irons, electronic components, and other products where high electrical conductivity is important. Additionally, heat treatment processes are used in the production of electronic components to improve electrical and oxidation resistance or to produce thermocouples, where the accuracy of temperature measurement is important, which depends on the electrical conductivity of the metal. 8. Magnetic properties Heat treatment can change the magnetic properties of metals. For the manufacture of permanent magnets, special materials are used that are heat-treated to improve their magnetic properties. Heat treatment can also be used to reduce the magnetic permeability of metals, which is important in electrical devices where magnetic fields can cause undesirable effects such as inductance and magnetic losses. 9. Repair heat treatment Heat treatment can be used to restore the structure of a metal after it has been worn or damaged. Metal wear is a complex process that results in a decrease in the strength and stability of parts due to external factors such as friction, corrosion, impacts, and others. In addition, during the operation of metal products made of hardened steel, a gradual destruction of the martensite structure can occur, which leads to a decrease in strength. The process of restorative heat treatment may include quenching, normalizing, tempering, etc. It is used to restore metal products such as gears, shafts, pump wheels, and other complex parts that are subject to wear or damage due to operation. The rational use of this method can significantly increase the durability and reliability of long-term operation of metal products. 10. Variability of procedures and combinations of methods Heat treatment of metals provides a variety of approaches that seem innumerable. However, they can be customized to achieve specific results. In addition, this process is well combined with other methods, such as mechanical or chemical processing. In some cases, a metal part may undergo several heat treatment procedures and other types of processing. The choice of the ideal method, however, really depends on the type of metal and the properties required, but in any case, it is necessary to test these properties to assess the effect of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of materials.  

Automotive Materials Testing A Huge Variety of Specialized Challenges Why is materials testing for the automotive industry so challenging? The automotive industry involves complex products that must be carefully engineered to ensure safety and performance across a variety of crucial subsystems. This imperative for meticulous engineering is only amplified by the high level of competition in the industry, which pushes automotive manufacturers to innovate constantly in pursuit of continuous product improvement.   In this context, material testing takes on added importance. Materials need to be specified as precisely as possible to ensure optimal cost, weight, and performance. And testing results need to be of the utmost quality to avoid errors that could drive costly recalls (or worse, safety issues).   Automotive manufacturers face an imperative to maintain reliable, precise, accurate, and repeatable procedures across a huge variety of required tests. We cover some of the most important across several categories below. This list only begins to cover the vast number of tests ultimately required by auto industry manufacturers, but it helps illustrate just how complicated testing requirements are for automotive OEM’s.   Automotive Materials Testing: Body Vehicle bodies are becoming increasingly complex, employing high strength materials including steels, aluminum, and fiber-reinforced plastics. Engineers face a continuous competition to utilize the most lightweight materials possible without compromising passenger safety.   Representative solutions for automotive body testing include machines for testing sheet metal forming properties and crash structures.   Automotive Materials Testing Machines: Chassis An automotive chassis is instrumental for overall vehicle safety, driving comfort, and fuel efficiency. Consequently, they are a particular focus of inspections, and materials need to be engineered meticulously for each and every chassis component.   Representative testing needs for automotive chassis include:   Spring Testing: key spring testing requirements cover compression coil springs, pneumatic springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers. A variety of spring testing capabilities (including force measuring platforms, servo-hydraulic testing machines, and multi-axial testing) are needed to evaluate attributes like friction, wear, and service life.   Testing for Wheels, Rims, and Tires: as the direct link between a vehicle chassis and the road, wheels, rims, and tires transfer all forces and torques experienced by the vehicle. All of these components come with their own testing requirements, ranging from tensile/tear growth tests for tire elastomers, to compression tests for rim flanges and break pads, to tests for the entire wheel assembly.   Steering Systems: steering systems attributes like stick slip effect, maximum torsion angle for steering shafts, and the reliability of steering column height adjustors must all be carefully tested for this safety-critical control system.   Automotive Materials Testing: Interior and Safety Components From seat belts, to headrests, to brake pedals, every part of a vehicle interior needs to be designed for optimal usability, comfort, and safety.  Automakers must navigate testing for a vast array of components including:   Seat and Interior Components: crucial seating components need to perform under extensive long-term use in operating environments that can range from sub-zero arctic temperatures to scorching desert sun. Testing processes need to cover attributes including fatigue strength for seat materials, foam hardness tests for headrests and other cushioned surfaces, and stiffness for headrests.   Safety Components: safety systems including seatbelts (with tests strictly regulated by UN/ECE-R16), air bag fabrics and connectors, and anti-pinch sealing systems for doors/windows all require an extensive array of testing capabilities to ensure reliable operation even after years of use.   Operational Controls: pedals (clutch/brake/gas), emergency break levers, and control switches all need to be precision engineered to ensure ease-of-use with optimal haptic, optical, and acoustic feedback for associated user actions. Doing so successfully requires specialized testing capabilities like curved-force actuators for pedals and specialized servo actuator grips for emergency brake lever testing.   Automotive Materials Testing: Engines and Drives Engines and drive assemblies play an essential role in determining performance, efficiency, and emissions. Auto makers are pressed to design lighter and faster engines, even as features (like supercharging and hybridization) become more complex.   Engine Components: crucial engine component testing capabilities include fatigue tests at a variety of temperatures for connecting rods, crankshafts, and valve springs. Additional testing capabilities are needed for engine-related systems like elastomer bearings, exhaust systems, and catalytic converter mats. Drive Train: drive train testing must capture specific properties at high speeds, torques, and temperatures. Vital drive train testing capabilities include clutch testing, torsion testing on drive shafts, hardness/fatigue tests on gears, and torsion tests on rubber-metal elements. Alternative Drives: as hybrid vehicles proliferate, automotive manufacturers are investing in achieving more efficiency in traction motors, which requires specialized testing capabilities for components like energy/hydrogen storage systems and electromagnetic actuators.