What is Heat Treatment Salt?
Heat treatment salt is a type of heat treatment medium, usually used in the metalworking industry. It is used to harden, soften, shape or impart other properties to metal parts. These salts provide a medium that allows metal parts to be treated at high temperatures for a certain period of time.
These salts can be a mixture of chemicals, usually potassium nitrate (KNO3) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2). These salts are used to provide temperature control, help parts gain desired properties and change the properties of the metal.
Heat treatment salts are widely used in the steel industry. They can be used in various heat treatments to increase the hardness, improve the strength or shape metal parts. These salts can be preferred due to their ability to work at high temperatures and their ability to provide homogeneous heat transfer. In this way, the desired mechanical properties of metal parts are obtained or modified.
In Which Industries is Heat Treatment Salt Used?
Heat treatment salts are used in various fields, especially in the metalworking industry:
- Steel Industry: It is used for processes such as hardening, tempering, nitriding in steel production. These processes are carried out to change the mechanical properties of steel, increase its hardness or soften it, and improve its durability.
- Aluminum Industry: Heat treatment salts can be used to harden or soften aluminum parts. These processes are done to improve or change the mechanical properties of alloyed aluminum.
- Foundry Industry: Heat treatment salts can be used for hardening, shaping or quality control of castings.
- Automotive Industry: In the automotive industry, these salts can be used to harden, temper or improve other properties of engine parts, gears and similar metal parts.
- Machine and Tool Production: Heat treatment salts can be used to harden or shape metal tools and to improve the performance of cutting tools.