Hardenable metals are those that can be strengthened through specific processes. These processes include precipitation hardening and heat treatment, which are essential for enhancing the strength and durability of metals.
What Metals are Hardenable? 5 Key Types Explained
1. Precipitation Hardening Alloys
Precipitation hardening, also known as age hardening, is a heat treatment process that increases the strength of alloys. This process involves adding elements like copper, magnesium, silicon, or zinc to the base metal. These elements form intermetallic compounds that precipitate within the metal matrix.
- Series 6xxx (Al-Si-Mg): These aluminum alloys, such as 6053, 6060, 6063, 6101, 6951, and 6061, are precipitation hardenable. They are commonly used in structural applications due to their good strength and formability.
- Series 2xxx (Al-Cu) and 7xxx (Al-Zn-Mg): These series include alloys like 2024 and 7075, which are highly valued for their high strength and are commonly used in aerospace applications. However, they are challenging to braze due to their low melting points.
2. Heat Treatment and Hardening of Steels
Steels, particularly carbon steels and alloy steels, are commonly hardened through heat treatment processes. The most common process involves heating the steel to a high temperature to form austenite, followed by rapid cooling (quenching) to form martensite, a hard and brittle phase of steel. This is then tempered to reduce brittleness and increase toughness.
3. Beryllium Copper
Beryllium copper is another metal that can be hardened through heat treatment. It is heated to form austenite and then quenched to form martensite. This alloy is valued for its high strength and electrical conductivity, making it useful in various industrial applications.
4. Other Metals
There are other metals that can be hardened through similar processes, but the ones mentioned above are the most common and widely used.
5. Summary
Hardenable metals include those that undergo precipitation hardening, such as certain aluminum alloys (e.g., 6xxx, 2xxx, and 7xxx series), and those that are hardened through heat treatment processes like quenching and tempering, primarily steels and some copper alloys like beryllium copper. These processes enhance the mechanical properties of the metals, making them suitable for high-stress applications in various industries.
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