Successful Gas Quenching Of 6061 Aluminum Alloy

摘要

The investigation was directed toward gas quenching of thin walled items (0.040 thickness). It has not, however, been limited just to thickness of material but also to design and quality requirements that do not lend themselves to conventional quenching methods. Gas quenching requirements are many, but the following characteristics are being investigated: (1) Gas entrance and exit - number of orifices and orientation; (2) volume of gas (CFH) per load - cross section of material being quenched; and (3) distribution system - essential and relative to type of furnace and part configuration. The progressive attitude throughout the investigation proved that containers can be gas quenched to a T-4 solution condition, aged to T-6, and verified by physical properties and hardness values. The physical properties and hardness values have been taken over several hundred actual hardware items to determine the bank width or variation. If simulated samples were used in the gas quenching process, extrapolation would be necessary. None of the containers were distorted in this process. The quenching by gas from 980F is accomplished in the same container or furnace as the heating and soak time. In order to maintain physical properties, material must be removed from the furnace in a very short period of time to reduce the effect of residual heating. Successful gas quenching was accomplished in a retort developed by Edgewood Arsenal personnel. (Author)