Professional Documents
Culture Documents
H
may exceed the design stresses. The removal of
EAT TREATMENT IS AN IMPORTANT residual stresses takes place due to the fact that
operation in the final fabrication process the thermal energy received by the metal allows
of many engineering components. Only for grain boundary sliding and removal of
by heat treatment it is possible to impart high metallurgical defects like dislocations, vacancies
mechanical properties to steel parts and tools for and slip planes. A most important aspect of Post
sophisticated applications. Weld Heat treatment is the prevention of Brittle
Heat treatment is considered to be very Fracture. Post weld heat treatment softens the
important tool of the metallurgist by which he hardened zones and makes the machining easy.
can alter the properties of steel easily. The Removal of residual stresses becomes necessary
same steel can have a very wide range of where dimensional stability is required. The
mechanical properties if subjected to different heat treatment consists of the stress-relief,
heat treatment. Today when science and annealing or solution annealing depending upon
technology are advancing very rapidly in pursuit the requirements.
of higher and higher properties in materials,
Thermal Stress Relief
heat treatment plays a very important role.
Residual stresses resulting from welding are
Principles of Heat Treatment reduced by a post weld thermal stress relief heat
Heat treatment may be defined as a sequence of treatment. The residual stress remaining in a
heating and cooling designed to get the desired material after stress relief treatment will depend
combination of properties in the steel. The on rate of cooling.
changes in the properties of steel after heat The percentage relief of internal stress is
treatment are due to the phase transformations independent of steel type, composition or yield
and structural changes that occur during the strength. The effect of varying time and temper
heat treatment. The factors, which determine are shown in the graph below:
and control these structural changes, are called
the principles of heat treatment. The important
principles of heat treatment are as follows:
1. Phase transformations during heating.
2. Effect of cooling rate on structural changes
during cooling.
3. Effect of carbon content and alloying
elements.
The welded pipe, after cleaning the joint has arm magnets) out of Aluminium Alloy 6061 T6.
been loaded in a localised set up furnace and Each of these structures consists of 4 Front and
pre-heated to 300° C and then Temp. raised to 4 Rear chambers and each of these chambers
625°C to 650° C at the rate of 150° C/hr (max.) is made up of a pair of Al. Alloy Frames.
Soaking time: 45 minutes To develop the manufacturing procedure, one
North side Front chamber was built on prototype
Rate of cooling 150° /hr cool up to 300° C and
basis, adopting weldment route for Aluminimum
then still air cool. The treatment has been done
structures, welded structure calls for post-weld
to achieve full strength.
heat treatment (Stress relief) for which a special
12” NB C.S. Elbow: 12” NB C.S. Elbows furnace, of triangular shape with 2.5 m long
welded by GTAW required for Kaiga Atomic slides was built. The prototype chamber was
Power Project. After welding post weld heat inspected and approved by Los Alamos National
treatment have been done. Labs, USA at CDM.
The job loaded in BHF and pre-heated to 300° C
Temp. raised to 625° C to 650° C at the rate of
150°/hr
Soaking time: 45 minutes
Rate of cooling 150° C/hr cooled up to 300° C
then still air cool.
The purpose of the treatment was to achieve full
Phenix aluminium frame
strength.
for 30 minutes at 900°C and allowed to cool at consists of a disc made of 17-4 PH heat treated
rate of 150°C/hr up to 400°C and then furnace to H 1100 condition to which is bonded an
cool. This operation was carried out to obtain annular disc of nickel, about 1.5 mm thick by
full hardness and uniform stresses. electro deposition from an aqueous bath.
Sealing is accomplished by deflecting the sealing
disc on the face of the end fitting of the coolant
channel and then locking the deflection. Nickel
serves as a sealing gasket. For efficient sealing
the nickel should be soft (hardness not more
than 170 HV) and the bond between nickel and
SS should be adequately strong.
Seal Disc
PFBR sleeve
Material: Al LM-14
Composition: Al, Cu: 3.5% to 4.5%
Si: 0.7 % SS 17-4PH
Nickel
Ring
Mg – 1.2 to 1.8% Disc
Cr < 0.21%
Solution Heat treatment – Seal disc
Temp. 515° C ± 5° C for 6 hrs and then Air blast
quenching The seal disc is heat treated after Nickel
Aging (Precipitation Hardening) diffusion bonding as per procedure stipulated
Temp: 232° C ± 5° C for 1 to 3 hrs below.
And cool in still air Seal disc are given solution treatment and
T.S: 215 to 280 Mpa precipitation hardening. Seal disc are heated in
Hardness: 100 BHN (approx.) furnace to 1050°C at the rate of 25-50° C/hr and
This has been done for stress relieving of the held for 30 minutes. Thermo-couples are fitted
housing. at the ends and the middle zone. The job then
Post Weld Heat Treatment of SS quenched in oil at room temp. 30° C.
Subsequently quenched in cold water at 5-10° C.
430 (Martensitic) + SS 304
Then precipitation hardening at H1075 (570 to
(Austenitic) Weld 585° C) carried out.
Job heated at the rate of 100° C/hr up to 700° C This has been done to achieve appropriate
20° C and soaked at this temp. for 5 hrs. conditions prior to diffusion bonding.
Furnace cool at rate of 30° C/hr up to 595° C
and then cool in still air. This operation carried
Conclusion
out to achieve impact properties.
Post weld heat treatment is necessary to satisfy
Seal Disc one or more end requirements. Every case has
Seal disc is used to prevent escape of heavy to be independently treated.
water from the coolant channel. The seal disc
This paper was adjudged as the Best Paper presented at the International Symposium
on Thermal Spray held at Mumbai during May 2-4, 2002