Precision forged components are important finished products in the machinery manufacturing industry. They have high strength, wear resistance, and reliability, which requires a series of processing technologies to ensure their quality. One of the key technologies is heat treatment. In this article, we will discuss the heat treatment methods for precision forged components from the perspectives of national policies and production practices.
I. National Policies on Heat Treatment of Precision Forged Components
To ensure the safety, reliability, and service life of precision forged components, the state has issued relevant regulations and standards. For example, GB/T 1299-2018 “Tool Steels” and GB/T 3077-2015 “Alloy structure steels technical requirements” stipulate the heat treatment methods and temperature ranges for precision forged components of different materials, and set strict inspection standards for each inspection item.
In addition, the state has established a sound institutional system and management system in quality supervision, and corresponding standards and requirements also exist in the field of heat treatment. For example, inspection and testing institutions for pyrotechnic products with heat treatment capabilities should comply with the “Regulations on the Safety Management of Storage and Sales Units of Explosive Articles”, and general industrial product inspection institutions should comply with the “New Rules for Industrial Product Inspection”.
II. Actual Production Heat Treatment Methods for Precision Forged Components
- Tempering: The solid solute is completely or partially decomposed into precipitates, reducing the brittleness in the alloy performance. Generally, it is subjected to tempering treatment by heating after quenching to an appropriate temperature, with common temperatures including 150℃, 250℃, 300℃, and the general heat treatment and carburizing and quenching steel parts tempering temperature generally around 500℃~650℃.
- Quenching: Heated the material to a certain temperature and rapidly cooled it in water, oil, brine, etc., to change its physical properties and organizational structure, and improve its hardness and wear resistance. During the quenching process, the most suitable quenching medium and cooling rate should be determined according to the specific material structure and size.
- Thermo-Mechanical Control Processing (TMCP): This is an efficient processing method that controls rolling first and then reaches a certain mechanical property through appropriate annealing. Through TMCP technology, the organizational structure can be optimized, and the plasticity and toughness can be improved, enhancing the tensile and impact toughness.
Overall, precision forged components are high-quality mechanical parts, and the heat treatment method will directly affect their product quality. Manufacturers must fully understand the material properties, structural characteristics, and usage conditions of products and reasonably select and control the heat treatment process to achieve optimal results.
