Surface Treatment and Heat Treatment
Modern machinery consists of many components made of a variety of different materials. In order to ensure the best performance of these components, most require some form of surface treatment and/or heat treatment. In simple terms, surface treatment and heat treatment describe how parts are treated prior to use in order to enhance the performance of machines.
Surface Treatment
Surface treatment or “finishing” of a component is a process that improves the quality and properties of the surface by increasing wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and other desirable characteristics.
Surface treatments can be divided into mechanical and chemical operations. Mechanical operations include grinding, honing, and lapping, while chemical operations include pickling, anodizing and phosphating. Depending on the component material, surface treatments such as chroming, electroplating, and coating may also be applied.
Heat Treatment
Heat treatment is a process of heating and cooling metal components in order to alter the mechanical and physical properties of the material. It is typically used to make a component stronger, more durable, and more resistant to wear and tear.
Common heat treatment processes for metals include annealing, hardening, and tempering. During annealing, the component is heated to a high temperature and then cooled gradually in order to soften it, while in hardening the component is rapidly cooled after heat treatment to achieve greater strength and hardness. In tempering, component is heated to a lower temperature and then cooled quickly in order to reduce the hardness and increase the toughness of the component.
Conclusion
Surface treatment and heat treatment are integral processes in the manufacturing of metal components used in modern machinery. By applying these processes, components are made stronger and more resistant to wear and tear in order to enhance their performance and improve the quality of the machinery.
