Atmosphere thermal processing improves the properties of fabricated metals. Operations include annealing, brazing, sintering (for powdered metals, metal injection molding and additive manufacturing) and glass or ceramic-to-metal sealing.

We continue our review of some of the most important chemical elements in heat treatment and metallurgy.

Hydrogen and hydrogen-bearing atmospheres are arguably the most versatile furnace atmospheres employed in the heat-treatment industry.

Hydrogen embrittlement is a phenomenon that affects high-strength steels, titanium, aluminum alloys and many other high-strength metals.

Hydrogen is one of the highest-volume gases consumed by the heat-treat industry and is used for a broad range of process applications because of its unique chemical and physical properties.

Since the early 1950s, family-owned FMS Corporation (Minneapolis, Minn.) has been producing high-quality sintered-metal components for a variety of industries. 

Praxair Inc. is expanding its business and building a steam methane reformer to increase the supply of hydrogen for its liquid hydrogen plant in Niagara Falls, N.Y.