Heat treat glass or metal (steel) with best heat treatment processes

Heat treatment is a process where the products are heated and cooled during a strict and controlled process. The product which undergoes heat treatment process have improved performance, durability, elasticity, hardness, and properties.

We can heat treat glass or metal to change their formability, machinability, strength, ductility, toughness strength and resistance. Every heat treatment process requires three steps which are:

• Heating the material to a particular temperature
• Holding and exposing materials to that temperature for a specified amount of time
• Cooling the materials with predetermined methods

Temperatures and times vary from treatment to treatment, and they also depend on the materials. Some materials need a slower cooling down period, and others faster. Even though extinguishing media can include brine, oils, water, polymer solutions, molten metals, gases and molten salts, most of them are quenched in oil, water, polymers or gases.

Most common heat treatment processes of glass and steel

We know several heat treatment processes that take place in the industrial ovens, but the most common ones we use to heat treat glass or metal are:

• Annealing

Annealing is a heat treatment process where we heat treat glass or metal. The materials are heated to a specific temperature, held at that temperature for a predetermined time in which transformation is made and then gradually air-cooled. This heat treatment of steel is used to decreases hardness and increase metal’s ductility. The duration of the cooling down period depends on the metal. Silver, brass and copper can be cooled down slow or quick, but the steel has to be cooled down gradually so the annealing can occur. Heat treatment can be used to improve steel’s stability, harden the materials and improve its life span. Annealing is often used as heat treatment of glass due to its ability to relieve stresses and soften the material

• Tempering

Tempering is a heat treatment process often used to increase the resilience, hardness, ductility and strength of steel. Tempering prepares the steel for machining. Heat treatment of tempering exposes the steel to a temperature below the critical point. That will maintain hardness and reduce the brittleness of the steel. Changing the temperature can change the outcome of the steel’s characteristics.

• Normalising

Normalising is a heat treatment process of steel where the steel is heated and exposed to a critical temperature for a certain amount of time in which transformation will occur. After that, the steel is air-cooled, which produces refined ferritic grains. The heat treatment process of normalising improves the strength, machinability and ductility of steel.

• Hardening

Hardening is a heat treatment to harden steel. Heat treatment of steel occurs in the industrial oven where the steel is heated to a temperature where the elements become a solid solution. To trap the particles in the solution the steel is quickly quenched.

• Case Hardening

Case hardening is a heat treatment where the external layer of steel is hardened, while the interior layer remains soft. In the heat treatment process, such as case hardening, the steel has to be infused with additional carbon. Chemicals and other elements are used in combination with high temperature to produce a hardened outer layer of steel.

Industrial ovens used for heat treatment processes

At Procesni inženiring d.o.o. we design, plan, invent and manufacture industrial ovens based on the needs of the production and a client. Each industrial oven is unique in it’s design, size and purpose. We want you to have custom made industrial ovens that not only fit the products, but also your production space. Our industrial ovens are constructed using efficient technological solutions with high energy standards. Industrial ovens can achieve extremely high temperatures and are crucial in every heat treatment of glass or steel. Their type depends on which heat treat glass or metal they are for. There are several types of industrial ovens that are different from one to another, due to personalised solutions and additions.

What are the most common industrial ovens for heat treat glass or metal?

Heat treatment of glass or heat treatment of steel is essential to improve the characteristic of the materials. Strength, hardness and stability are improved in industrial ovens such as:

• Direct Gas Ovens

Direct gas ovens are less expensive to run, but a bit more costly to build. They can easily maintain temperature and can heat up quickly. Due to their advantages, they are often used in the steel and automotive industry.

• Batch Ovens

Batch industrial ovens are used to heat treat large quantities of products. They come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the usage and application. Batch ovens can be heated by direct or indirect burners of electrical elements.

• Drying Ovens

Drying industrial ovens were designed to remove moisture using natural or forced convection. They present as a vacuum ovens for granular products, electronic components and powders.

• Continuous Ovens

Continuous ovens which are used in mass production can operate at different speeds. They have multiple heat zones, an exhaust hood and a cooling zone. Continuous ovens are often used for the heat treatment of glass due to their automation, flexibility and high production volume.

• Baking ovens

Baking industrial ovens release volatile compounds and moisture from coatings on finished products. They are thermal processing systems that combine drying and curing.