Frequently Asked Questions about Heat Treating Steel

We here at Hi-Tech Steel Treating often get asked the same questions about heat treating steel in Tennessee. So we’re going to covered some of the most frequently asked questions and give you more information about the heat treating steel process and how it can benefit you.

Can you hit a metal with another metal to determine hardness?

Depending on the type of metal, yes, you can. For example, a hard aluminum is more like a soft steel. You can try to use a scratch test, especially if you purchase a set of graduated files, which are specifically designed to test the steel’s (or other metal’s) hardness. 

What happens when the metal’s toughness is tempered down with hardness?

When the metal’s toughness is tempered, the toughness is not significantly affected by the tempering process. But you can improve the toughness through heat treating steel by using a lower hardening temperature and then cooling it completely to room temperature between the tempers. This will ensure a complete conversion.

Why are metals like steel, carbon and iron so hard?

The internal crystal structures are the cause. Non-ferrous metals can only be hardened through hammering, bending and rolling. But they are softened through the heat treating steel process called annealing. Steel’s hardness is determined by its carbon content. When you are heat treating steel, you have to heat it to a medium red color, or to just above the point where the steel becomes magnetic, and then dip it into water, air or oil.

Can you use a scratch test on glass, stainless steel or carbide?

You can, but it’s not as dependable. There are other, more reliable ways of testing these materials’ hardness.

When you need heat treating steel in Tennessee, call Hi-Tech Steel Treating, Inc. at 1-800-835-8294 or Contact Us.

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.