Heat Treating Steel

Steel heat treating is something that is done to manipulate steel’s physical and chemical composition. This will help harden or soften the metal, so it can be used for different applications. Heat treating metal is not something new, but practices and technologies have been upgraded to make it more efficient. For clients all around the country, like in Tennessee, heat treating steel can be performed by Hi-Tech Steel. We provide a variety of steel heat treating services. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the different heat treating methods.

1. Stress Relieving. This type of heat treating is used to cut down on undesirable distortions after shaping. If the steel does not go through the stress relieving process, it will make it harder to shape as it is continually worked with.

2. Hardening. There are a number of methods used to perform steel hardening. Harder steel has a lower chance of bending when it is being manipulated.

3. Annealing. It is a method of heat treating that increases ductility and workability. During the annealing process, steel is heated for a period of times and then cooled at a precise temperature.

4. Normalizing. The process of normalizing steel, which will help the grain of the steel follow the new structure of the steel after it has been shaped for use.

5. Steam Treating. This type of heat treating increases steel’s ability to retain lubricants. This reduces wear and tear on the steel and improves corrosion resistance.

There are many other processes to heat treat steel that we haven’t covered. If you live near Tennessee, heat treating can be handled by us. To see a full list of our services, please visit our website.

If you need of Tennessee heat treating services, call us today at 1-800-835-8294 or Fill OutOur Online Form.

How Steel Hardening Works: Tool Steels

When it comes to steel hardening, there are many different processes at play. One of the most popular applications is to harden the material into tool steel. For our clients all over the country, like Tennessee and Michigan, steel hardening gives them the tool steel they need for their particular application(s), whether it be industrial or commercial.

What is tool steel?

Tool steel, essentially, is what it reads: steel that is suitable to be made into tools. The reason these types of steels are made into tools is due, in part, to their hardness, abrasion resistance, ability to retain a cutting edge and durability against elevated temperatures.

What are the most common types of tool steels?

The most used types of tool steel include:

·         Water-Hardening Types (W-grade steel). These steels are water quenched, and is relatively low cost compared to other types, hence its popularity.

·         Cold-Working Types. These steels are used on larger parts or those requiring lessened distortion during hardening. Subtypes include oil-hardening types, air-hardening types, D-types and ISO 1.2767.

·         Shock-Resisting Types (S-type steel). These are tool steels designed to resist shocks at low and high temperatures, and can be found in applications like jackhammer bits.

·         High-Speed Types (T-Type and M-Type). These are developed for cutting tools whose applications require them to retain strength and hardness at extremely high temperatures.

·         Hot-Working Types (H-Type). This steel is used for tools that are prolonged to increased temperatures.

·         Special-Purpose Types:

◦   P-Type Tool Steel. For plastic mold sheets.

◦   L-Type Tool Steel. These are low-alloy special purpose tool steel.

◦   F-Type Tool Steel. This type is more resistant than water-hardening types, even though it is also water hardened.

Looking for a great Michigan steel hardening company? Call Hi-Tech Steel today at 1-800-835-8294.