Quenching is just a amtter of of convenience if you want to handle it right
away
Copper, as in copper tubing "anneals" ( softens - recrystallizes) at
realtively low temperatures - 500 C or less . - well below red heat.
Tom Chandler
Annealling is a softening process.
>
> To anneal copper, heat it then quench it - it makes it more
> malleable/bendable/ductile/more easily formed.
>
> There are many variations for heat treatment for steel. The basic terms are
> anneal (heat and cool slowly to soften), normalize (heat and air-cool to
> regain strength and hardness), quench (heat then cool in water, oil or
> molten salts to increase hardness & strength), temper (after quench, reheat
> to lower temp to reduce brittleness, then air cool) or draw (after quench,
> reheat to lower temp to reduce brittleness, then requench).
>
> These treatments are done on different chemistries to achieve different > properties.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Regards,
> Simon
>
> "Sorry I don't have a quip, I can never find the time to think a really
> genuine one up, although as I was sitting out the front of my house the
> other day I ..............................."
>
> > First, what is meant by anneal?
> >
> > Is it different for Copper and Steel?
> >
> > I was told that to 'anneal' copper, you would heat it up and quickly cool
> it quickly, this
> > would make it hard. I have always found the opposite true. I heat copper
> up and quench it,
> > finding the copper tubing to be bendable afterwards.
> >
> > So, I guess the word Anneal is in question for me. To anneal something is
> to what? I
> > checked out dictionary.com and it states
> >
> > "To subject (glass or metal) to a process of heating and slow cooling in
> order to toughen
> > and reduce brittleness.
> > To strengthen or harden."
> >
> > But this doesn't seem true even with steel. I thought steel would get
> harder, but possibly
> > more brittle when you heat it and cool it quickly. Copper would get soft
> by heating it and
> > cooling quickly.
> >
> > What issue am I incorrect with? Once again, anneal means what with what > metals?
> >
> >
> > Thanks
> > Rich
> >
>
>
>
> To anneal copper, heat it then quench it - it makes it more
> malleable/bendable/ductile/more easily formed.
>
> There are many variations for heat treatment for steel. The basic terms are
> anneal (heat and cool slowly to soften), normalize (heat and air-cool to
> regain strength and hardness), quench (heat then cool in water, oil or
> molten salts to increase hardness & strength), temper (after quench, reheat
> to lower temp to reduce brittleness, then air cool) or draw (after quench,
> reheat to lower temp to reduce brittleness, then requench).
>
> These treatments are done on different chemistries to achieve different > properties.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Regards,
> Simon
>
> "Sorry I don't have a quip, I can never find the time to think a really
> genuine one up, although as I was sitting out the front of my house the
> other day I ..............................."
>
> > First, what is meant by anneal?
> >
> > Is it different for Copper and Steel?
> >
> > I was told that to 'anneal' copper, you would heat it up and quickly cool
> it quickly, this
> > would make it hard. I have always found the opposite true. I heat copper
> up and quench it,
> > finding the copper tubing to be bendable afterwards.
> >
> > So, I guess the word Anneal is in question for me. To anneal something is
> to what? I
> > checked out dictionary.com and it states
> >
> > "To subject (glass or metal) to a process of heating and slow cooling in
> order to toughen
> > and reduce brittleness.
> > To strengthen or harden."
> >
> > But this doesn't seem true even with steel. I thought steel would get
> harder, but possibly
> > more brittle when you heat it and cool it quickly. Copper would get soft
> by heating it and
> > cooling quickly.
> >
> > What issue am I incorrect with? Once again, anneal means what with what > metals?
> >
> >
> > Thanks
> > Rich
> >
>
>