alloy aging
Objective: improve the mechanical strength of certain alloys
This heat treatment is used to improve the mechanical strength of certain alloys such as aluminum alloys, copper-beryllium alloys, nickel-based alloys and certain stainless steels.
The hardening mechanism is based on the formation of precipitates of the alloying elements in the metal structure.
In general, this treatment is preceded by solution treatment, which consists of heating an alloy to a temperature and time suited to its chemical composition, then cooling it rapidly to keep a supersaturated solution at room temperature.
The nature and quantity of precipitates obtained during aging contribute to increasing the alloy's mechanical strength. For light alloys, for example, these precipitates, which depend on ageing temperature and time, are defined by Guinier Preston zones.
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Information to be communicated :
- Drawing of the part.
- Number of parts per shipment per year.
- Type of steel: standard designation
- Previous treatments (pre-treated, tempered, stabilized, annealed).
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Vacuum deposition is a surface treatment used to deposit a material or alloy on a mechanical part.
The use of vacuum technology ensures a perfectly clean, non-polluting process.
It is not subject to REACH legislation.
This process greatly increases resistance to wear, abrasion, friction and corrosion. As a result, component life is greatly extended.
Standard thicknesses are of the order of 3µm and deposition is carried out on finished parts.
PVD is physical vapor deposition. The element to be deposited is obtained by evaporation or sputtering via a physical process. PACVD is plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition. The element to be deposited is obtained from chemical reactions. Plasma enables this chemical reaction to take place at lower temperatures.
Vacuum deposits are classified into several categories: anti-wear, friction, decorative and biocompatibility. The applications are therefore very varied: automotive components, aerospace, tooling, cutting tools, medical devices, decorative parts...
The deposition method depends above all on the nature of the coating to be deposited and the substrate.
If the substrate cannot be heated to high temperature, the deposition must be carried out using low-temperature technology.
If the coating to be deposited consists of a solid element (metal or graphite target), a physical process such as PVD is used. If the coating consists of a gas or liquid, a chemical process such as CVD or PACVD is used.
Incorporate carbon below the surface of the steel part to improve fatigue and wear resistance on the surface, while maintaining good core mechanical properties.
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