The simplest way to change the mechanical properties of steel is by adjusting the carbon content. By accelerating the rate of cooling you can make additional changes to the material. When the steel cools quickly, there is less time for carbon atoms to move through the lattices and form larger carbides. Various properties of metals experience change when undergoing heat treatment. Some of these changes can make the metal more resilient while others make them softer, allowing them to be reshaped.

As metals are heated, their surface, volume, and length will expand. This is called thermal expansion, and different metals will have varying rates of expansion when exposed to heat.

The structure of metal goes through a transformation when heat treated. The allotropic phase transformation is when the heat displaces the allotrope atoms in metals and causes them to reform in a different arrangement.  This can change the structural shape of the metal as well as alter its strength and hardiness.

Metal can have a certain level of electrical resistance when heat treated. When metal is heated, electrons can absorb additional energy and cause them to move faster than normal.

Metals like nickel and iron can lose some of their magnetism from undergoing heat treatment. In certain instances, they are no longer magnetic at all.

Here are some different kinds of heat treatments that can be done on metal. All of these involve heating and cooling to change the metal in some way. Most of the time, the purpose of heat treating is to increase the toughness and strength of a metal. These are the most common ways to perform heat treatments.

Tempering is used for improving ductility on steel. If steel doesn’t undergo this process it is too hard but also too brittle for many applications.

When metal is heated to an appropriate temperature to alter its microstructure and then slowly cooled, this is called annealing. This increases the electrical conductivity and also makes the metal more workable.

Steel and other alloys can be hardened to improve their mechanical properties. During hardening, metal is heated to a temperature high enough to dissolve a portion of the carbon in it. This is before the proper quenching medium is applied. Hardening increases strength and wear resistance but it can also cause your metals to become more brittle sometimes, so depending on your application, it may or may not be recommended.

Interested in purchasing KAMA products?

Questions?

Contact Us @ 865-671-7682