Heat Treatment Fundamentals and Processes

In Heat Treatment Fundamentals and Processes, you'll learn ...

• Important underlying concepts including metal crystal structures, defects, alloying, diffusion, and phase diagrams that are needed to understand heat treatment processes
• Various types of heat treatment processes and applications that are important in different industries
• The effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties
• Relevant equipment used in heat treatment processes

Overview

Credit: 4 PDH

Length: 54 pages

Heat treatment is the controlled process of heating to a specified temperature, holding that temperature for a specified duration, and then cooling at a specified rate. The process is typically performed on a metal or alloy to alter its microstructure and phase constituents and thus improve mechanical properties. It may also be performed to make an alloy softer in order to improve formability and facilitate hot or cold deformation (working) processes such as forging, drawing, extruding, etc. to make mill products. Heat treatment is commonly associated with steels but it is also commonly conducted on aluminum (Al) alloys, titanium (Ti) alloys, nickel-based superalloys, and other alloy systems. Heat treatment adds significant value that is estimated at ~$15B annually to manufactured metal products. It is a necessary part of the manufacturing process in order to produce parts for many industries including aircraft, aerospace, automotive, defense, semiconductors, power generation, petrochemical, and heavy equipment.

Engineers require knowledge of heat treatment and its effects during the design process in order to ensure that parts meet engineering specifications and design requirements. Since metals and alloys are used in many engineering applications this knowledge and understanding is useful for civil and structural engineers, mechanical engineers, materials and metallurgical engineers, chemical engineers, and electrical engineers.

In this course, the heat treatment fundamentals and processes of metals are presented. The course first reviews important underlying concepts including metal crystal structures, defects, alloying, diffusion, and phase diagrams that are needed to understand heat treatment processes. In the second part, the course provides an overview of different types of heat treatment processes and applications that are important in different industries including annealing processes, quench and tempering, case hardening processes, and precipitation hardening. The effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties is examined in each section. The course also discusses relevant equipment for heat treatment processes. Examples are provided for important engineering alloys including steel, copper, aluminum, titanium, and others throughout the discussion.