What Is the Heat Treating Metal Process?
The heat treating metal process involves heating metal to a specific temperature, holding it there for a set time, and then cooling it at a controlled rate. These steps are part of a broader heat treatment procedure designed to improve internal structure and mechanical behavior. While the shape of the material stays the same, the metal’s hardness, toughness, and strength are significantly enhanced.
This process is critical in
aerospace manufacturing, where parts must resist deformation and fatigue during extreme operational conditions. We apply this technique to ensure every component performs reliably in the air, on the ground, or under load.
Our Most Common Metal Heat Treating Services
Different applications require different treatments. Here’s a look at the core methods we use to deliver high-performance results:
Tempering: Improve Toughness After Hardening
Our metal tempering process is used to reduce brittleness in hardened steel. After initial hardening, the metal is reheated to a lower temperature and then cooled slowly. This method increases ductility while maintaining much of the strength, making it ideal for aerospace parts that need to endure impact and stress, like landing gear supports or engine mounts.
Annealing: Soften and Stabilize the Material
Annealing metals involves heating them to a high temperature and letting them cool slowly. This softens the material and makes it easier to machine or form. It also helps relieve internal stress from prior processing. Annealed metals are more workable and less likely to crack, which is important for parts that need reshaping or welding during later stages.
Quenching: Maximize Strength in a Flash
Quenching metals means cooling them rapidly, usually in water, oil, or air, after heating. This quenching heat treatment greatly increases hardness and tensile strength, making it essential for components that must perform in extreme conditions. Quenching is often followed by tempering to balance strength with flexibility. It’s commonly used for parts like shafts, turbine blades, or aerospace fasteners.
Benefits of Heat Treatment for Aerospace and Beyond
Enhanced Strength and Surface Hardness
One of the most valuable outcomes of the heat treating metal process is improved strength and resistance to wear. Hardened metals are more capable of withstanding repeated loads, friction, and vibration. This is especially important for aerospace parts that operate under constant mechanical stress.
Better Flexibility and Impact Resistance
While some applications require hardness, others need balance. The metal tempering process and annealing metals offer flexibility and toughness, essential for components that must absorb shock or move under load without failing.
Metal Stress Relieving for Long-Term Stability
When metal is machined or welded, it can develop internal stress that eventually leads to cracking or distortion. Our metal stress relieving services reduce that risk by gradually releasing built-up tension. The result is a more stable, predictable part with a longer service life.
Tailored Results Through Precision
Every heat treatment procedure at Red Lion Inc. is perfect for your part’s material and performance requirements. We control time, temperature, and cooling rates with exacting precision. Whether you need uniform hardness, specific tensile strength, or resistance to fatigue, our approach is built around your goals.
Longer-Lasting Components
Our metal heat treating service helps extend the life of mission-critical parts. Heat-treated components maintain their properties in extreme environments, resisting corrosion, deformation, and thermal fatigue over time. That translates to fewer replacements, reduced downtime, and lower maintenance costs.
Industries We Serve
Though aerospace is our specialty, we also provide expert heat treating services for:
- Automotive performance and safety components
- Heavy-duty industrial machinery
- Energy systems and turbine equipment
- Defense, weapons, and surveillance hardware
Each project is handled with careful attention to material properties, application demands, and industry regulations.
Get Expert Support for Your Heat Treating Needs
If you need precise control over your material’s properties, we are here to help. Whether you’re hardening parts through quenching metals, softening them with annealing metals, or refining them with our metal tempering process, we deliver consistent results through every heat treatment procedure.
Contact us today to request a quote or learn more about our metal heat treating service. Let’s make your components stronger, tougher, and ready for whatever conditions they face.
