Oil Quenching

Oil quenching is a bulk heat treatment process that involves heating steel to a controlled temperature, followed by rapid quenching in oil, which is used as the quenching medium. This process modifies the internal structure of the material, increasing its hardness and wear resistance. 

When quenching is followed by a subsequent tempering treatment, the process is known as quench and tempering, allowing an optimal balance between hardness and toughness to be achieved, thus improving the mechanical performance of the component. 

This treatment is particularly suitable for quench-and-temper steels with a carbon content between 0.2% and 0.4%. 

FEATURES

Type of treatment:

Bulk heat treatment

Process description:

Steel is heated above the critical temperature, transforming its ferritic structure (BCC – ferrite) into an austenitic structure (FCC – austenite). The subsequent rapid cooling in oil produces martensite by trapping carbon atoms within the structure, resulting in increased hardness and mechanical strength. 

ADVANTAGES

• High core hardness

• Uniform mechanical properties

• Controlled surface oxidation

• Process repeatability

• High toughness after tempering  

PROCESSABLE MATERIALS

• Alloy steels

• Structural steels

• Tool steels

EQUIPMENT

Total number of furnaces: 3

• No. 2 furnaces: 600 mm × 600 mm × 1000 mm

• No. 1 furnace: 700 mm × 900 mm × 1400 mm

Operating temperature range: 200°C to 1000°C