Water-soluble Quenching Liquid
Water-soluble quenching liquids are used in the quenching process of metals, which refers to annealing, hardening, and other heat treatment processes to improve the physical properties of metal materials. In the annealing process, water-soluble quenching liquids are generally used. In this process, the metal material is heated to the recrystallization temperature, and then quickly cooled by the water-soluble quenching liquid.
Water-soluble quenching liquids consist of mineral oil, distillate or synthetic base oils, polar organic compounds such as amides or esters, solid lubricants, water-soluble inhibitors, emulsifiers and other additives. Above these ingredients, the emulsifier is the most important component of a water-soluble quenching liquid.
Essentially, water-soluble quenching liquids are designed to be more water tolerant, which means they are more effective at quenching than conventional oil. The reason is that water-soluble quenching liquids contain emulsifiers, which reduce the surface tension of the liquid, allowing greater penetration of the liquid and the solubility of the oils and other functional additives.
Common emulsifiers used in water-soluble quenching liquids include fatty acids, synthetic surfactants, and amine or phosphate. These emulsifiers are incorporated into the liquid to attract both polar and nonpolar liquids.
The properties of water-soluble quenching liquids are variable; however, in general, they are designed as corrosion-resistant and offer excellent quenching performance. Such products also improve the service life of tools and provide cleaner more uniform quenching than conventional oils.
A component of a good water-soluble quenching liquid is also an inhibitor, which is necessary to prevent oxidation during quenching. This can be in the form of a suspended additive or a dissolved additive. One common inhibitor is zinc di-oleic acid.
In addition, other desirable characteristics of a good water-soluble quenching liquid include film strength, water tolerance, and carbon residue. Film strength refers to the ability of the liquid to form a protective film on the surface when it is applied. The water tolerance is the amount of water that the quenching liquid can tolerate before breaking down. Lastly, carbon residue is the amount of carbon left on the surface after use.
These additives, when combined, create a water-soluble quenching liquid that can provide protection and enhance the physical properties of metals. In the heat treating process, water-soluble quenching liquids provide rapid cooling of metals and can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as annealing, hardening, and more.
It is important to choose the right water-soluble quenching liquid for the job. Different applications require different additives and emulsifiers so it is important to choose a product that is right for the application. When choosing a water-soluble quenching liquid, it is important to consider the properties of the liquid, the inhibitors and emulsifiers used, and the film strength, water tolerance, and carbon residue.
