The study of heat treatment and the metallurgy of metals is perhaps the oldest science known to mankind. If one thinks about that statement, you realize that there was a time that humans used only stone for weapons and digging. Then came the age that carried man into the world of metals.

We continue David Pye's blog series on the causes and effects of distortion.

We continue David Pye's blog series on the causes and effects of distortion. Part 2 can be found here.

We continue David Pye's blog series on the causes and effects of distortion.

As every heat treater – captive or commercial – knows, distortion will occur. The heat treater must recognize the many reasons why distortion occurs. This applies to both ferrous and nonferrous materials.

The purpose of tempering is to develop both the toughness and ductility of the austenitized and quenched steel implement.  

One of my favorite television programs (and I suspect many other heat treaters) shows and demonstrates the early forging techniques that were used to make knives, swords, axes, etc.

I have often addressed the effects of induced mechanical stresses in the metal and the ways that those stresses affect the dimensional movement when the metal is subjected to thermal conditions (hot or cold). The question is often asked: How long does it take to remove the induced mechanical stresses caused by physical mechanical conditions being applied to the metal (e.g., machining stresses)?

Most heat treaters have been told by in-house customers, as well as external customers, that we need to have the component “heat treated without distortion.” That is essentially an impossibility.

Do you need motivated? Here's some quotes David Pye compiled that just might help.