Properly homogenized billet is a must for a good extrusion process. In order for this process to be carried out correctly, the homogenization oven must have appropriate temperature distribution.
What is aluminum homogenization?
Homogenization is typically used for heat treating aluminum billet after casting; It aims to eliminate residual stress generated during casting and improve metallurgical results. It is an important process in improving the quality of aluminum profiles.
In fact, homogenization is essential to produce high quality extrusions. If you do not control the homogenization step, you may have to face the following:
Increased explode pressure.
More flaws.
Striped texture after anodizing.
Lower extrusion speeds.
Poor mechanical properties.
Why is temperature distribution important?
Temperature distribution in ovens generally varies depending on the design and type of the oven. It is the nature of the heat treatment that a temperature different from the oven setting temperature occurs in different parts of the oven. However, it is vital for the products that this temperature difference be within a certain range.
For example,
±25°C in different zones in an furnace set to 540°C can make dramatic differences in the quality of the billets.
Monitoring the temperature is very important in the aluminum homogenization process. By ensuring temperatures are within set parameters, you can ensure that your products not only reach critical temperature points but are held at that temperature for the correct amount of time.
In order to see how this process progresses in the oven, the entire process is recorded by placing thermocouples at different points. With this recording, we can see what is happening inside the furnace. A typical product temperature profile report should include the following items,
Time to reach setting temperature
Time above the set temperature
Heating regime
Cooling regime
Cooling time
In the example below, you can see the fluctuation in temperature when one of the burners is disabled for a short time.
So how suitable is your furnace for this job?
How can we help you as BDİ Metal?
If your company has any problems with billet quality, feel free to contact us. We can report to you whether your billets reach the temperatures you want and how long they stay at that temperature by measuring the temperature distribution in the oven.
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