Precipitation Hardening

Strength Through Aging.

Precipitation hardening is a heat treatment process used to increase the yield strength of most alloys and some steels and stainless steels. It provides superalloys with excellent high-temperature strength. This process usually follows an annealing or solution treatment, where the metal is heated to ultra-high temperatures, and then quenched to prevent precipitates from forming on the alloy. The final step is aging the metal by once again heating it, but below the solvus temperature to change the solubility of precipitates. Precipitation hardening is usually distinguishable from tempering by the fact that it requires the material to be held at higher temperatures for longer. This process not only produces stronger alloys, but also makes machinability far easier, reduces flexibility, and produces higher tensile strength.

Solutions You Can Trust, Technology You Can Count On.

Finding the right atmosphere to protect your parts is critical. At Paulo, we have invested in custom-designed furnaces that can handle air, argon, hydrogen, and helium atmospheres – plus vacuum and water-quench furnaces. We also have the industry’s widest range of computer-controlled furnaces running 24 hours a day, delivering the precise temperature control, heating rates, soak temperatures and cooling rates your project demands, no matter the delivery schedule.

What’s the Paulo Difference?

·   Multiple thermocouples to ensure uniform temperatures across entire lots

·   One-cycle solution treat and age, decreasing handling time and improving turnaround

·   Fast cooling in high-pressure quenching vacuum furnaces to maintain desired microstructures