Heat treatment is a key step to consolidate component properties and achieve a more efficient manufacturing cycle. Through controlled heating and cooling processes, adjusting factors such as temperature, time and the heating or cooling medium, changes in the structure of the alloys are promoted to achieve specific mechanical properties in the final pieces.
The TREAT methodology, developed by AZTERLAN to develop optimized thermal treatments, allows designing the most sustainable thermal treatment route, in terms of energy and final product quality. Starting from the geometry of the part and the properties required for the final application, this methodology is based on a detailed study of the different manufacturing processes and subprocesses and is supported by materials and process simulation tools, combined simultaneously or sequentially.
An extensive study of the requests and problems associated with the useful life in service of the component allows identifying the characteristics to be enhanced for a correct response in service.
Identification of the manufacturing process, its critical variables and the microstructural characteristics responsible for the final characteristics.
Based on the microstructure and segregations observed for the chosen material, the heat treatment curves (CCT, TTT, etc.) will be designed.
The existing relationships between the material, the manufacturing process and the final microstructural properties obtained will be established, both experimentally and at the simulation level.
The parameters obtained in the previous phases will be used to make a prediction of the microstructural evolution that will occur in the piece through heat treatment.
With this information, the optimal heat treatment route is designed, defining the types of heat treatment to be applied (normalized, tempering, hardening…) as well as the specific parameters (time, temperature, speed) of the different phases of said process.
Manufacture of demonstration part/s including the application of the designed heat treatment.
Study of the real properties of the demonstrator through destructive and non-destructive tests. Data analysis using data analysis modellers to identify critical variables and achieve thermal treatment optimization.
