Heat treatment of equipment materials

Processes The heat treatment processes include two basic types, namely heating treatment and cooling treatment. Heating treatments include normal temperature cycling treatment, temperature cycling treatment, fluctuating heating treatment, and special heating treatment. Cooling treatments include rapid cooling and slow cooling. 1. Normal temperature cyclic treatment: At temperatures of 366–732°C (700–1300°F), through processes such as heating, maintaining a constant temperature, and rapid cooling over a certain period of time, the structure and properties of the metal are improved under normal temperature conditions. 2. Temperature cycling treatment: Within a certain temperature range, the holding time at different temperatures is increased or decreased to achieve optimal improvements in the structure and properties of the metal. 3. Oscillatory heating treatment: An automatic temperature control system is used to carry out up-and-down folding within a certain temperature range, thereby improving the elastic bonds between metal atoms and enhancing the strength and toughness of the metal material. 4. Special heating treatment: Within a specific temperature range, a special heating procedure is employed to alter the elastic bonds between metal atoms, thereby improving the strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance of the metal material. 5. Rapid cooling treatment: Methods such as salt bath, oil bath, or water spraying are used to cool the material to room temperature instantly after heating, which facilitates the formation and uniform distribution of a small amount of martensite, thereby enhancing the properties of the metal material. 6. Slow cooling treatment: After heating, a slow cooling method such as laminar flow cooling is used to reduce the temperature gradually, thereby refining the microstructure within the metal material and enabling more uniform formation of martensite, thus improving the material’s properties.