Solutionizing & Ageing for Aluminium
Solution treatment is the first part of the process of precipitation hardening. The material is heated and soaked at its Solvus temperature limits of solubility in its solid phase. This is done to dissolve the precipitates and reduce the segregation that might be present in the alloy which enhances the strength, toughness, and wear resistance of alloy components. This method is widely used in aluminium foundry and aerospace structure materials where components must withstand heavy mechanical loads and prolonged wear
Overview of Solutionizing & Precipitates Hardening Process
This involves a three stage process where the material will be solutionized, quenched and taken to precipitation hardening.
Solutionized
The Aluminium component is heated to solvus temperature typically of 515-540 °C for the soaking based on the profile thickness.
Quenched
The Solutionized part is rapid quenched to solvent like water, glycol, etc. To avoid quench stresses and distortion, heated water and used as the quenching medium.
Precipitates Hardening (Ageing Process)
The Cooled material is transfed to an Ageing Oven with operating temperature varying from 160 -185 °C and then naturally cooled.
Industries Benefitting from Solutionizing & Ageing Process-Aluminium Application
The Solutionizing & Ageing Process is widely preferred in industries where high durability, wear resistance, and surface hardness are critical to component performance. Key sectors include:
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- Automotive Industry: manufacturing wheels, engine blocks, gearbox housings, and engine mounts, are made of soft aluminium. Other components, including the car’s chassis, are made of more rigid aluminium alloys which need to be solutionized and precipitation hardened.
- Die Casting Industry: All the house hold and construction component that are made out of Aluminium alloy in Pressure die casting industry.
- Aircraft & Aero space Industries: Light weight material that required in designing the Aircraft and rockets are made out of aluminium which is solutionized and precipitate hardened.
- Aluminium Extrusion Industries: The extrusion industrial furnace manufactures the profiles needed to strengthen the profile by solutionizing and ageing.
Furnaces used for Solutionizing Of Aluminium
Drop-bottom Quench Solutionizing Furnaces
This is widely used in most drop bottom quench solutionizing furnace processes. These furnaces are designed with rapid quenching by advanced design movement, placing the quenching tank under the furnace, Once the charge is heated it is dropped to be quenched immediately.
Temperature Range: 500°C to 600°C
Standard Applications: Solution Annealing/Solutionizing for T6 Process Chamber Design: Cylindrical/Rectangular
Temperature Uniformity: +/-5 °C or Class 2 (+/-6 °C)
Additional Features: Automated Operation with Quench Delay of 5-15 Sec with PLC and SCADA for data acquisition.
These Drop bottom Furnaces for aluminium can also be designed to meet strict AMS 2750 Compliance norms
PIT Type Solutionizing Furnaces
The Pit Type Solutionizing Furnaces are preferred for Long component. Designed to quench it vertically to avoid distortion. The design for quench delay typically 20 sec -30 Sec
Temperature Range: 500°C to 600°C
Standard Applications: Solution Annealing/Solutionizing Chamber Design: Cylindrical
Temperature Uniformity: +/-5 °C or Class 2 (+/-6 °C)
Additional Features: Thyristor & PLC based control and SCADA for data acquisition.
These Pit type Furnaces for aluminium can also be designed to meet strict AMS 2750 Compliance norms
Horizontal Quench Furnace:
The Horizontal Quench furnace is preferred for small Automobile and Aerospace component to process in bulk quantity. Designed to pull the job out and Quench by Pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism with elevated platform in quench tank. This is designed for quench delay of within 15 to 45 Sec.
Temperature Range: 500°C to 600°C
Standard Applications: Solution Annealing/Solutionizing for T6 Process
Chamber Design: Rectangular
Temperature Uniformity: +/-5 °C or Class 2 (+/-6 °C)
Additional Features: Thyristor & PLC based control and SCADA for data acquisition.
These Horizontal Quench furnace for aluminium can also be designed to meet strict AMS 2750 Compliance norms
Ovens used for Ageing of Aluminium
Precipitation occurs at room temperature with many aluminium alloys and this action then is known as natural ageing. Certain other alloys must be heated slightly to bring this precipitation to completion within a reasonable length of time. This is called artificial ageing. In either case, this controlled precipitation is aimed at providing the correct grain size, character and distribution of the precipitated particles in the aluminium to produce strength and other desired mechanical properties.
Ageing treatment may be applied to castings in the as-cast or solution-heat-treated conditions to improve the mechanical properties or it may be employed to stabilize solution heat-treated castings and also for various aluminium sheets and profiles of varied section thickness. In either case, changes in the properties result from controlled precipitation of constituents from solid solution.
Manufacturers use aluminium ageing ovens and aluminium ageing furnaces to treat various materials, ensuring controlled heat and atmospheres for precise results. Leading ageing heat treatment manufacturers provide advanced furnace designs that ensure even temperature distribution and optimal performance, making them a critical part of industries focused on high-performance materials.
The best ageing heat treatment furnace manufacturers offer advanced systems that meet the rigorous standards required by high-performance sectors such as aerospace.
Temperature Range: 160°C to 250°C
Standard Applications: Precipitation Hardening / Ageing Chamber Design: Rectangular
Temperature Uniformity: Class 1 (+/-3 °C):
Additional Features: Thyristor & PID based control.
These ovens for ageing of aluminium can also be designed to meet strict AMS 2750 Compliance norms
