Aluminum alloys - Thermilyon Group

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Heat treatment of aluminum and light alloys

Objective: Improve the mechanical strength of aluminum alloys through structural hardening

Some aluminum alloys can be heat-treated to improve their mechanical properties (tensile strength, hardness, etc.).

This treatment involves structural hardening.

Light alloy and aluminum alloy treatment furnace

Our aluminum alloy treatment process

Putting into solution

The parts are heated to a temperature determined by the grade of aluminum alloy (approx. 480 to 540°C). As the name suggests, this stage brings the various constituents soluble in the solid solution into solution.

Quenching stage (cooling)

The parts are rapidly immersed in athermostatically-controlled water tank. Transfer time and water temperature are important factors in controlling the process: cooling must be sufficiently rapid to keep the solid solution supersaturated.

A polymer can be incorporated into the water to reduce the cooling rate and thus reduce the risk of cracking or deformation.

Maturation and/or income stage

Ripening allows the metallurgical structure to evolve at a relatively low temperature (often room temperature). Tempering takes place at a higher temperature than maturation. Depending on the alloy, one or two tempering operations may be carried out.

Hardening takes place during this stage.

The different states of treated aluminum alloys

T4: dissolved, soaked, matured

T6: solution treatment, quenching, tempering

T7: solution heat treatment, quenching, over-tempering (alloy 7000)

The main aluminum alloys for heat treatment

-2000 series: aluminum-copper

-6000 series: aluminum-magnesium-silicon

-7000 series: aluminum-zinc

Features and benefits of aluminum alloy processing

breaking strength

After heat treatment, depending on the alloy, a tensile strength of 300 to 500 MPa (max. 600 MPa) can be achieved.

Dimensional stability

The annealing or stabilization technique guarantees the homogenization of aluminum parts.

a controlled process

Light alloys and aluminum require special heat treatment. The THERMILYON Group has mastered and improved these processes by investing in a water quenching furnace that guarantees extremely rapid and controlled cooling.

Information to be communicated for study or order

Information to be communicated :

- Drawing of part, weight, number of parts per shipment and per month.
- Nature of metal. Preferred AFNOR (or commercial) designation.
- Previous treatment: specify temperatures
- Desired specifications or stresses of the part.

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business sectors concerned

Aluminum alloys are highly appreciated for their lightness. We find them in sectors where perfect control of part weight is essential.

Aerospace

Sports and leisure

Machines and components

Do you have a question or a need?

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