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S.M. Engineering & Heat Treating has over 50 years of experience in custom heat treating open repair services for various industries, including aerospace. We expertly treat all metals and offer hydrogen atmosphere and inert gas metal treatment. As heat treatment suppliers, we guarantee superior work and customer service, making us the leading innovators in our field.

Aerospace Specific

Heat treating is the application of heat or cold to alter the metallurgical properties of a metal part.

S.M. Engineering & Heat Treating treats multiple materials. We use various heat treatment methods to improve material characteristics or regain characteristics adversely affected by production processes like welding, bending, forming, and more. Our approach helps improve the component’s strength, machining reliability, and material’s formability and ductility.

Types of Heat Treating In The Aerospace Industry

All metals in aerospace are bright annealed, hardened, quenched, and stress relieved. Aerospace heat treatment requires multiple materials treating abilities and heat treatment methods.

  • Hardening Methods = Bright, Case, Precipitation, Normalizing, Sintering, Flame, Oil, Brazing, Deep Case Carburizing
  • Quenching Methods = Oil, Nitrogen, Brine, and air quenching
  • Annealing Method = Bright
  • Other Heat Treating Methods = Hydrogen Atmosphere & Inert Gases
  • Brazing = Nichrome, Copper, Gold, Silver

Aerospace relies heavily on stress reduction, and we heat treat components like:

  • Turbine blades
  • Engine casings
  • Engine stator rings
  • Seat brackets
  • Hydraulic fittings
  • Thrust reverser
  • Nozzle guide
  • Gears and transmission parts, and more

The Basics of Aerospace Heat Treating

Why Use Heat Treatment For Aerospace

Aircraft needs to function at optimum levels, and a plane’s life depends on the grain structure of its alloy, which is dependent on vacuum heat treatment. It regains properties adversely affected by production processes. Additionally, aerospace heat treatment reduces stress on metal parts to improve component strength and fatigue life for extreme aerospace applications.

What Type Of Heat Treatment Is Best for Aerospace Parts

Heat treatment processes include annealing, degassing, brazing, nitriding, normalizing, and stress relief. Aerospace heat treating covers titanium, aluminum, high-alloy steels, composites, ceramics, carbon, and other high-strength, lightweight materials. Additionally, it occurs in a vacuum or in extremely protective atmospheric gases to protect metal alloys from oxygen, nitrogen, or hydrogen.

Hardening is the most common aerospace heat treating process, and this involves strengthening alloys by exposing them to low temperatures for a sufficient period.

What Should You Look For In Aerospace Heat Treating Ovens

A vacuum heat treating furnace heats metals to high temperatures with minimum gas contamination. Vacuum inhibits oxygen, reducing oxidation. Vacuum heat furnaces improve the metal alloy by evenly heating the region, cooling it faster, and extending its life and functionality. Many aerospace-grade industrial ovens have similar features, including:

  • Correct oven chamber size
  • Heavy-duty construction
  • Airflow-efficient designs
  • Even chamber heating
  • Corrosion-resistant steel exteriors
  • Digital process timers
  • RAMP/SOAK controllers

Optional oven features include:

  • A stoving and curing kit for removing volatile gasses
  • Vertical airflow impellers
  • Explosion relief panels
  • Manual or automated vertically opening doors

The Technology Behind An Aerospace Heat Treating Furnace

The stages of heat treatment are heating, soaking, and cooling. Slowly heating the metal guarantees its temperature remains constant, preventing the uneven heating that causes metal portions to become deformed or broken. On the other hand, the soaking stage maintains the metal’s temperature until the desired internal structure forms. Cooling is the final stage of heat treatment in which the metal is cooled back to room temperature.

Furnace types differ based on the application requirements. But whether you need a 9-foot tabletop furnace or a 90-foot floor unit, S.M. Engineering & Heat Treating can construct a unique heat treating furnace to streamline your procedures. We guarantee quality heat treat furnace parts for long-lasting units and productive manufacturing, including:

  • Fabricated furnace muffles and retorts
  • Vacuum retorts and lids
  • Heat treating salt pots
  • Pit furnace retorts and liners
  • Inner covers
  • Atmosphere furnace fan systems
  • Furnace rolls
  • Heat treatment furnace internal alloy Systems

Aerospace Heat Treating At S.M. Engineering

At S.M. Engineering & Heat Treating, we design furnaces of all sizes that are appropriate for standard heat treatment methods, including hardening, brazing, soldering, glass sealing, and enameling.

We manufacture customized industrial furnaces in standard kW rates and voltages, with digital or PLC controls (programmable logic controller):

  • Conveyor belt furnaces
  • Strip quench furnaces
  • Pusher batch furnaces
  • Batch furnaces
  • Retort furnaces

Our ISO 9001:2015-certified U.S. facility crafts atmosphere-conserving furnaces with high-quality components and ships them worldwide. We use premium and customizable raw materials, outfitting each furnace with state-of-the-art microprocessors for precise control over heat treatment cycles.

S.M Engineering & Heat Treating continues to be one of the most reputable firms in the world due to our commitment to quality goods and customer service over the past fifty years. Call us now or request a quote from us to let us help design your desired furnace type!