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Solution annealing and aging

Aircraft engine made of super alloys
Aging is necessary for superalloys and titaniums.

It is called heat treatment to create one or more solid phases at high temperatures in an alloy. In order for these solid compounds to remain in solution, they need to be cooled rapidly in environments such as air, pressurized gas, oil, polymer and water, depending on the type of alloy.

Aging is done to ensure hardening by precipitating the phases formed after solution. It can be done naturally at room temperature or artificially at high temperatures.

It is an indispensable heat treatment for superalloys.

An aviation engine wing, a syringe needle, or even a sword used in fencing go through a solution and aging heat treatment.

Material groups that need this heat treatment:

  • Nickel-based superalloys

    • Inconel 718® (UNS N07718 / 2.4668), Nimonic, etc.​

  • Cobalt based superalloys

    • UDIMET® R41 (UNS N07041)​

  • Iron-based superalloys

    • NILO® 42 (UNS K94100 / 1.3917)

  • Precipitation hardening stainless steels

    • 17-4 PH, Maraging250, A-286

  • Duplex stainless steels​

    • 1.4507 (X2CrNiMoCuN25-6-3), 1.4655 (X2CrNiCuN23-4)

  • Titanium alloys

    • 6Al-4V, 6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo and 13V-11Cr-3Al

  • Aluminum alloys

    • 6061, 7075, 2014 and 7050

  • Copper alloys

    • UNC C17200, C17300​

  • Magnesium alloys​

    • AZ80, AZ63​

In the automotive industry, CQI-9 Table A is used for this heat treatment technique.

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