Hardening is a rapid cooling process used in material processing to prevent phase changes and improve durability. It can be done with air, liquid polymers, oil or water, but can cause warping and cracking. Safety precautions are necessary during the shutdown process.
Hardening is a phase of material processing in which the material undergoes very rapid cooling. Metals are classically hardened during machining, and polymers can also be hardened, depending on the circumstances under which they are used. Adding a quench bath to material processing steps is quite ancient, as many ancient societies learned that rapidly cooling metals could radically alter their performance. They also learned that different means could be used for extinction and cause different results.
When quenching is performed, the material can be rapidly cooled with air, liquid polymers, oil or water. Sometimes multiple methods are used. For example, the metal may be air cooled and then immersed in a water bath to complete the quenching process. To ensure that the material is cooled evenly, it may be necessary to agitate the material. Conversely, stirrers can be used to move the extinguishing medium. This prevents temperature differences that can damage the material by weakening it, allowing some content to precipitate, or warping an area.
The purpose of this processing step is to prevent phase changes that occur during slow cooling. When materials cool slowly, excellent opportunities are presented for several phase changes and the material remains in the right temperature range for a long period of time. During quenching, the material reaches these temperatures, but does not stay in that temperature zone long enough for a phase change to occur. Hardening also prevents alloy materials from precipitating and separating, which could weaken or degrade the material.
This process is not without its problems. Hardening can cause warping, cracking, and other problems with the material, even if done correctly. Using water as a cooling material, for example, can cause the material to warp as it cools. It is important to control the environment in which hardening is performed to minimize the risk of material damage. When it’s good, the material is harder and more durable, making it suitable for a wide range of uses.
The shutdown process can also be dangerous. The materials to be quenched are extremely hot and, if immersed in a quench bath, can give off a large amount of steam, potentially causing burns. It is important to wear protective clothing during this stage of material processing and to ensure that everyone in the vicinity is aware of the hazards.
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