As a customer technical-support metallurgist, one question that customers ask over and over is whether their precipitation-hardenable steel is annealed or aged.

Over the past few decades, significant strides have been made to increase the life cycle of components that are to be used at high temperatures. Today, there are new alloys that can result in another doubling (or more) of the component life at far less the doubling of cost.

As a metallurgist, I am frequently asked for assistance on metallurgical issues relating to alloy products and selection. Here are the most frequently asked questions and a guide to answering these questions.

There are many types of heat-treating fixtures, trays, racks, boxes and other part holders in the market. They are generally castings, wrought fabrications or hybrids.

By understanding that there are differences between carbon steels and nickel-based heat-resistant alloys and employing proper procedures and practices, these alloys can be successfully welded consistently.

RA330© was developed over 60 years ago by Rolled Alloys and continues to be used for a multitude of heat-treating applications.

RA 602 CA® – also known as 602 CA® and NiCroFer 6025, which are trademarks of VDM – is a relatively new heat-resistant alloy with excellent creep strength at very high temperatures and oxidation resistance up to 2250°F (1232°C).

The first factor in choosing a heat-resistant alloy for a particular application is its temperature limit.