Thermal treatment as a series of processes can increase the hardness of a material through a variety of methods such as hardening, tempering, and annealing. The main purpose of theses processes is to optimize the material to better fulfill its intended functions. For example, bearing type parts that typically require an even and relatively uniform hardness of their surfaces can be achieved through a thermal treatment process.
Hardening, tempering, and annealing are all common types of thermal processing. Hardening generally involves heating the material above the critical temperature (A1 state), tempering the material to obtain desired hardness and toughness while increasing strength, and then annealing the material to eliminate internal stress and reduce brittleness.
Hardening is an important process for bearing type parts. It is completed by heating the part to the desired temperature and then rapidly cooling it, usually with oil or water. This transformation will cause the outside of the part to become harder than the inside due to the larger heat loss on the outside than the inside.
Tempering is also an important process for bearing type parts. Tempering is done by heating the part at a temperature that is lower than the critical temperature (A1 state) for a few hours and then cooling slowly at a rate that enables the desired hardness and toughness to be achieved. The purpose of this process is to reduce the brittleness of the material, increase its strength and biocompatibility, and improve its wear and corrosion-resistance properties.
Finally, annealing is used to reduce internal stress and reduce brittleness in materials. In this process, the part is heated to a prescribed temperature and cooled slowly at a controlled rate. This causes the internal structure of the material to relax and reorganize, removing stresses generated during the hardening process and allowing the part to be further processed without excessive amounts of deformation.
Overall, thermal processing is a valuable technique for many bearings, including those with relatively uniform hardness on their surface. Hardening, tempering, and annealing all work together to bring about desirable properties in materials and make them more suitable for their intended application. These processes are all heavily monitored to ensure that the correct measures are taken to maximize the life span of the bearings and minimize their susceptibility to wear, tear, and corrosion.
In conclusion, thermal processing is an important treatment for bearing type parts that helps to make them more reliable and durable. This method involves hardening, tempering, and annealing to produce desirable hardness, toughness, strength, and corrosion-resistance properties in the material. As a result, these parts are optimal for their intended application and can last longer and be more reliable than parts processed without thermal treatment. Thermal processing is a valuable tool that many companies rely on to bring the highest quality products to market.
