Heat Treatment Processes: What You Need To Know

HEAT TREATMENT PROCESSES : Everything You Need to Know Heating Stage 3 Stages of Heat Treatment 01 Soaking Stage 02 Cooling Stage What is Heat Treatment ? 03 Heat treatment is performed to alter the mechanical properties of a material , usually metals , and achieve specific characteristics . High temperatures alter the microstructure of metals , which is when the change in property occurs . The material is then cooled in a controlled manner to achieve the intended properties , such as increased strength , malleability , pliability , or abrasion resistance . This stage ensures that the metal is heated uniformly by doing it slowly . Heating the metal too fast may cause one side to expand more quickly , distorting or cracking a section . The soaking stage keeps the metal at the right temperature until it achieves the desired internal structure and properties . The cooling stage cools the metal back to room temperature . This can be done in different ways , such as by a cooling medium , a gas , liquid , solid , or a combination .