Case Study on Helium Quenching

Air Products, located in Allentown, PA has been Solar Atmospheres, Eastern PA sole supplier of liquid nitrogen, argon and helium since its start in 1983.  This relationship and Solar’s new application for the use of helium for vacuum furnace quenching has lead Air Products to do a case study on Solar.

Air Products did the study to explain the engineering and processing advantages of Solar’s helium usage for a considerable percentage of its quenching needs.  The study was on the use of helium cuts against conventional gas quenching practices that use the much less expensive nitrogen or argon.  The case study features Solar’s new 24 foot furnace (50,000 lb. capacity) and new 10 bar, high gas velocity vacuum furnaces in its Hermitage, PA facility.  These furnaces illustrate the challenge and advantages of improved quench cycles by using helium. Through furnace engineering modifications and the use of helium, quenching times are better than anticipated.  The results for vacuum heat treated material have been spectacular.

Air Products challenge is to supply helium gas while there is a world-wide production shortage.  Solar Atmospheres is confident of Air Products ability, the world’s largest producer and supplier of helium, to meet the expanded application of this gas for its customers in the heat treating industry.  Air Products long range planning has given Solar Atmospheres the assurance it needs to implement its growth strategy.