Importance of aging metals
Due to natural environmental conditions, metals transform with oxide forming on it in the initial stages. This will change the texture and color of the metal surface. Afterwards, the layer will transform into a hydroxide layer that combines with other elements in the atmosphere until the metal surface gains as table mineral composition resistant to further changes. However, natural aging can take a long period of time that is why it is accelerated in the Aging ovens. This process is referred to as artificial aging where metal alloy is treated at elevated temperature to accelerate changes in its properties. This will ensure that the metal alloy will have quality and accuracy in close tolerance specifications. Machinists are guaranteed that there are metals ready and available for metalworking purposes.
Aging ovens for precipitation hardening
Aging is one of the processes in precipitation hardening with the other two as solution treatment and quenching. Precipitation hardening is also handled in Aging ovens where a saturated solution is heated to an intermediate temperature that will induce precipitation. There are three criteria in precipitation hardening and this includes appreciable maximum solubility, solubility curve that will reduce quickly with temperature and composition of the metal alloy that is less than maximum solubility. It is important to ensure that aging is accomplished well to ensure that the materials in the alloy will not revert to their original configuration after a certain period of time. When using Aging ovens, it is essential that heating is undertaken in controlled conditions so that the resulting grain structure will have greater tensile strength than in its previous state. On the other hand, it metal is over-aged or the heating process is extended beyond the specified time, the hardness of metal can decrease.
Strain hardening technique through Aging ovens
Strain hardening technique is a method of repeated stress relaxation performed at different temperatures in the Aging ovens. Once the yield point of metal is reached, it is deformed plastically and higher levels of stress are necessary to continue with the deformation. The more that metal is deformed plastically, the more that its strength is enhanced. As expected, strain hardening is an important factor for metal forming processes and though it is a usually a challenge that has to be overcome, strain hardening techniques when used properly can be a vital part of a manufacturing process in producing stronger metals. During the metal forming operations, it is important to know the force and power necessary to accomplish the required deformation. For processes like forging the maximum flow stress values would be very significant but for extrusion, wherein metal is continuously being deformed and the different stages of deformation are occurring simultaneously, it is important to take into account the mean flow stress values.