Pressure Quenching Faster than Water

Recently, a major supplier of titanium alloy plates needed Ti-17 alloy rapidly quenched from the solution annealed temperature.  Water quenching was attempted, but the thin sections lost too much heat going from the furnace to the quench tank.

With a combination of equipment and processing capability Solar Atmospheres, Souderton, PA successfully solution treated the thin Ti-17 plates.  This was possible because of gas pressure quenching in a VFS 10 bar vacuum furnace.

The plates were sent to Solar for gas pressure quenching from the annealing temperature using helium at 6 bar pressure.  Because the gas quenching began without delay, the plates were cooled rapidly through the critical range.  The mechanical properties were improved and the medical customer accepted the parts.