Custom Heat Treat Neutral Salt Bath Heat Treat Process
Neutral Salt bath heat treating of tool steels offers advantages over
other methods of hardening and tempering. Neutral salts are derived from
a balanced mixture of chlorides that enable neutrality, fluidity, and
maximum stability.
The salt medium is brought to a molten state via a conduction furnace,
at which point the parts
are immersed. Heat is transferred directly by contact of the parts to
the molten salt, with the
core temperature of the part rising at approximately the same rate as
the outside
surface. This allows for rapid and uniform heat distribution throughout
the part(s).This is
particularly advantageous for parts with complex geometries and varying
cross sections. These
complex parts can be heat treated and quenched with minimal distortion
observed.
With the parts fully immersed in the salt bath, there is no air contact,
thus avoiding the
problems of oxidation, steel scaling, and decarburization that are
common with other methods of
heat treating.
Because of these advantages, neutral salt bath heat treating is quite
often considered the
"preferred" method of heat treating tool steels and related parts.
The experienced technicians at Custom Heat Treat work closely with all of the steel manufacturers to insure that they are in tune with all of the latest steel technologies and that their processes are such that their customers receive the very best heat treat possible.
In Keeping with Custom Heat Treat's dedication to quality and customer service, all round tools and screws are straightened to very close tolerances. All broaches are straightened to a TIR of < .010, and all injection screws to a TIR of < .007