1. Solution Heat Treatment (Solutionizing)

In this crucial first step, the alloy material is heated to a high temperature of typically 930–1020°F (500–550°C) for several hours to dissolve alloying elements uniformly into a solid solution. The holding phase of this step can range from 1–12 hours, which ensures complete dissolution of strengthening particles.

2. Quenching

In this step, the hot component, casting, or part is rapidly cooled (quenched), usually by quenching in water or polymer solutions, such as glycol, heated to 120–212°F (50–100°C). This rapid cooling event freezes, or “locks”, the alloy’s microstructure elements in place, eliminating long-range diffusion of the alloying elements, thereby creating a supersaturated solid solution.

3. Artificial Aging

The third step of T6 heat treatment involves reheating the quenched aluminum alloy material to an intermediate temperature of typically 300–400°F (150–200°C) to accelerate precipitation hardening. The alloy is held at these temperatures for a specific duration of time, in the range of 3–10 hours but sometimes as much as 24 hours. Artificial aging accelerates the natural aging process and works to maximize hardness and tensile strength by allowing tiny strengthening particles to form throughout the metal. The alloying elements form into highly-coherent clusters and subsequently evolve into larger semi-coherent precipitates, maximizing strength and toughness

The VersaQuench® Quick Quench Furnace is a high-performance batch furnace designed for heat treating and annealing of aluminum and non-ferrous materials. VersaQuench features a compact, round, obstruction-free chamber, rapid atmosphere recirculation, and a robust, fast-acting hydraulic elevator to minimize quench delay. The VersaQuench incorporates Surface’s mechanical motion, standard chain and handler head design which is the industry standard for repeatable, automatic quench transfers. The furnace chamber is Class 2 (+/-10F) and quench transfer times (quench delay) of 10-15 seconds are available options. Heating options are direct-fired gas heating or electric heating with a nitrogen option. VersaQuench is capable of processing both cast and wrought products, suitable for T6 heat treatment.

The Uni-DRAW® Batch Tempering Furnace is for the artificial aging step in the T6 heat treatment. The Uni-DRAW originally was originally concepted as a companion furnace to the Allcase® Batch Integral Quench Furnace. The Uni-DRAW is designed for pre-heating, tempering, and aging. The Uni-DRAW can also be used as a stand-alone heat-treating system and in a T6 heat treatment cell. The Uni-DRAW® Batch Tempering Furnace’s patented cylindrical design provides a circular wind flow pattern that ensures excellent wind distribution throughout the furnace, resulting in temperature uniformity within the effective workload area. Heating options include direct-fired gas, indirect gas heat in radiant tubes, or electric heating with nitrogen atmosphere optional.