CN108603241A

CN108603241A - Heat-treated metal material and correlation technique

Info

Publication number: CN108603241A
Application number: CN201780008981.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·C·布克班德; T·张; J·J·多梅; P·J·莱齐; R·O·马斯克梅耶; J·C·托马斯; K·L·沃森
Original assignee: Corning Inc
Current assignee: Corning Inc
Priority date: 2016-01-29
Filing date: 2017-01-27
Publication date: 2018-09-28
Also published as: US20190040491A1; WO2017132476A1

Abstract

Thermally treated metal sheet or product are provided and manufacture the method and system of the thermally treated sheet material or product.This method includes leading to heat and/or cool the metal sheet sufficiently long time to provide required micro-structure and mechanical performance by noncontact thermal.The process generates thermally treated metal sheet.

Description

Heat-treated metal material and correlation technique

The U.S. Provisional Application Ser the 62/th that the application requires to submit on January 29th, 2016 according to 35U.S.C. § 119 No. 288695 priority, herein based on disclosure of which and by reference to it to be completely hereby incorporated by.

Background technology

Technical field

The correlation technique of heat treatment the present disclosure relates generally to the metal material of heat treatment and for metal and alloy and System.

Technical background

In the heat treatment of metal material such as simple metal, alloy, intermetallic compound and glassy metal, various heat are used And/or thermomechanical method provides the required combination of micro-structure, mechanical performance, physical property and/or surface smoothness.Especially Ground, metal material can carry out heat treatment and/or thermo-mechanical processi, to generate the recrystallization of the microstructure of metal material, gold Belong to the second phase morphology required in the stress elimination and/or host matrix of material product.This heat treatment is generally included metal Material product is heated to high temperature, and metallic material product is kept to required time span at high temperature, then cools down metal material Product.In certain methods, the controlled heat rate for metal parts product to be heated to high temperature and/or cooling metal are needed The controlled cooling rate of material product.

The heat treatment of metallic material product uses Large-scale Heater (especially in business heat treatment process device) at present, long Cooling (bounce) platform, needs big energy to provide enough heats and a large amount of coolant liquids to provide enough cooling rates. In addition, when attempting metallic material product being moved to quenching station (cooling zone) from heating furnace (heating zone), by metal material system Product from high temperature are quickly quenched to required lower temperature, and there may be problems.Therefore, it is necessary to provide at heat metallic material product It manages while reducing energy expenditure and increasing the device and method of the mobile easiness between heating zone and cooling zone.

Invention content

Disclosure part is related to the metallic material product of heat treatment and method, the technique of heat-treated metal material product And system.In various embodiments, the technique of the disclosure and method, which are heated and/or cooled, is formed by metal material (product) Product, the product are supported during heating and/or cooling with gas.By the heating gap between heat source and product by thermal energy from Heat source is transmitted to product and carrys out heating product so that 20% or more the thermal energy for leaving heat source passes through heating gap and received by product. Product is heated to required high temperature and is kept for the required time.Hereafter, make part cooling.In embodiments, make product empty Air cooling.In other embodiments, from system by by cooling gap of the thermal energy of product across product and radiator Product are transmitted to radiator and carry out refrigerated product so that 20% or more the thermal energy for leaving heating product passes through cooling gap and by radiating Device receives.In embodiments, product is supported with gas during heating, and more than half thermal energy for leaving heat source passes through and adds Temperature gap is simultaneously received by product.The product can also be supported with gas during cooling, and more than half leaves the heat of product Cooling gap can be passed through and received by radiator.Heating gap or cooling gap can be respectively provided with outer surface and the product of heat source Between or the average thickness between product and the outer surface of radiator, be less than 10 millimeters (mm), 5mm, 2mm, 1mm, 800 microns (μm), 600 μm, 400 μm or 200 μm.In embodiments, the rate of heat transfer from heat source to product during heating, Huo Zhe Rate of heat transfer of the cooling period from product to radiator, respectively greater than 50 kilowatts of every square metre of (kW/m²), it is more than 100kW/m², greatly In 150kW/m², it is more than 200kW/m², it is more than 250kW/m², it is more than 300kW/m 2, is more than 350kW/m²m², it is more than 450kW/m², More than 550kW/m², it is more than 650kW/m², it is more than 750kW/m², it is more than 1000kW/m²Or it is more than 1200kW/m², for heat source The area of outer surface or the area of outer surface for product.

The product can be sheet material, cylindrical bar, the forms such as hexagon bar.When product is sheet-form, product has Length, width and thickness.In embodiments, the thickness of sheet material is less than 3mm, is less than 2mm, is less than 1.5mm, is less than 1.0mm, small In 0.5mm, it is less than about 0.25mm, is less than about 0.1mm, be less than 0.08mm, is less than 0.06mm, or be less than 0.04mm.Width and length At least one of degree is more than five times of sheet thickness.When product is in rod-shaped, bar has average diameter and length.In embodiment party In formula, the diameter of bar is less than 10mm, is less than 9mm, is less than 8mm, is less than 7mm, is less than 6mm, is less than 5mm, is less than 4mm, is less than 3mm is less than 2mm, is less than 1mm, is less than 0.8mm, is less than 0.6mm, is less than 0.4mm, is less than 0.2mm or is less than 0.1mm.

It can be the air gap for having interval area to heat gap or cooling gap, and enters the gross mass of the gas of air gap Flow velocity is more than 0 and is less than 2k/gCp/ square metres of interval area, and wherein k is the gas in the air gap assessed on heat transfer direction Thermal conductivity, g is the distance between heating product and spreader surface, and Cp is the specific heat capacity of gas in air gap.

Metal material can be simple metal or alloy, and simple metal or alloy can be polycrystalline, monocrystalline or glassy metal.Proof gold Category can be business simple metal, such as business fine aluminium (Al), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), molybdenum (Mo), silver-colored (Ag), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), zirconium (Zr), golden (Au), platinum (Pt) or any other commercially available proof gold Belong to.Alloy can be Al based alloys, Cu based alloys, Cr based alloys, Ni based alloys, Nb based alloys, Fe based alloys, Mg based alloys, Mo based alloys, Ag based alloys, Ta based alloys, Ti based alloys, W based alloys, Zr based alloys, Au based alloys or other known alloys.

In embodiments, product is made of Al based alloys, and carries out solution heat treatment, quenching to Al based alloy products And aging, to provide precipitation strength (also referred to as precipitation-hardening or age-hardening) product with the residual stress reduced.In addition, Al based alloy products can be cold worked, and then be heated by heat source so that the Al based alloy products micro-structures of cold working are sent out Raw recrystallization.The Al based alloy products that recrystallization can controllably be cooled down, to prevent the micro- knot of Al based alloy products of recrystallization The undesirable grain growth of structure.

In embodiments, product is made of Cu based alloy products, and carries out solution heat treatment to Cu based alloy products, Quenching and aging, to provide the precipitation strength product with the residual stress reduced.In addition, Cu based alloy products can carry out it is cold Processing, is then heated by heat source so that the Cu based alloy products micro-structures of cold working recrystallize.It can be controllably cold But the Cu based alloy products recrystallized, to prevent the undesirable grain growth of the Cu based alloy products micro-structures of recrystallization.

In embodiments, product is made of Fe based alloys, and Fe based alloy products pass through solution annealing so that Fe bases The micro-structure of alloy is entirely austenite, then cools down and (including is free of pearl with ferrite and the desired amount of pearlite to provide Body of light) micro-structure.In other embodiments, solution annealing is carried out to Fe based alloy products so that micro- knot of Fe based alloys Structure is entirely austenite, is then cooled down to provide the micro-structure with ferrite and the desired amount of bainite and/or martensite.It can To cool down the Fe based alloy products of solution annealing, to which retained austenite can reside in the micro-structure of Fe based alloy products. Fe based alloy products can be cold worked, and then be heated by heat source so that the Fe based alloy products micro-structures of cold working are sent out Raw recrystallization.The Fe based alloy products that recrystallization can controllably be cooled down, to prevent the micro- knot of Fe based alloy products of recrystallization The undesirable grain growth of structure.

In embodiments, product is made of Ni based alloys, and Ni based alloy products pass through solution annealing so that Ni bases The micro-structure of alloy is entirely austenite (face-centered cubic-FCC), is then cooled down to provide with the second required phase sediment Micro-structure.This second phase sediment may include Ni₃Al (γ ') sediment, carbide precipitation object, nitrides precipitate object and/or Carbonitride precipitates.Ni based alloy products can be cold worked, and then be heated by heat source so that the Ni bases of cold working close Golden product micro-structure recrystallizes.The Ni based alloy products that recrystallization can controllably be cooled down, to prevent the Ni of recrystallization The undesirable grain growth of based alloy products micro-structure.The product can be made of other kinds of alloy, and carry out hot place Reason and cooling, to provide required product micro-structure.It should be understood that the mechanical performance of the micro-structure and product of alloy product It is closely related.Therefore, alloy product can be heated and is cooled down, to provide the group of required intensity and ductility It closes.

This method may include the heated metal material product in heating zone, which is configured to the table of chemical modification product Face region.For example, heating zone may include chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment and/or plasma deposition apparatus, can chemistry change Become the surface region of product.The surface region of product can be through chemical modification, such as by coating, dipping and/or spreads element, The element such as nitrogen (nitridation), boron (boronation), carbon (carbonization) and combinations thereof.

Other features and advantages of the present invention, Partial Feature and advantage pair therein are given in the following detailed description It will be appreciated that for those skilled in the art, or by implementing described in verbal description and its claims and attached drawing Embodiment and be realized.

It should be understood that general description and following detailed description above is all only exemplary, for providing understanding The property of claims and the overview of feature or frame.

Appended attached drawing provides a further understanding of the present invention, and attached drawing is incorporated in the present specification and constitution instruction A part.One or more embodiments have been illustrated, and have been used for explaining each embodiment together with verbal description Principle and operation.

Description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is the heat treatment system according to illustrative embodiments using the present invention by conduction rather than passes through convection current And through the schematic cross section of cooling metal material sheet material.

Fig. 2 is the heat treatment system according to illustrative embodiments using the present invention by conduction rather than passes through convection current And heated in a continuous manner and cooling metal material sheet material schematic cross section.

Fig. 3 is according to illustrative embodiments heated and cold in a continuous manner by convection current by conduction But the schematic cross section of metal material sheet material.

Fig. 4 be the heating and the cooling that show the metal material fine sheet according to embodiment disclosed by the invention temperature with The relational graph of time.

Fig. 5 A are the schematic cross sections of the cold working metal material sheet material before recrystallization.

Fig. 5 B are the schematic cross-section of the metal material fine sheet of Fig. 4 A after re-crystallization.

Fig. 6 A are the schematic diagrames of the ferroalloy with the desired amount of pearlite manufactured according to illustrative embodiments；

Fig. 6 B are the micro- knots of ferroalloy with the desired amount of bainite and martensite manufactured according to illustrative embodiments The schematic diagram of structure.

Fig. 6 C are free from the schematic diagram of the ferroalloy micro-structure of pearlite.

Fig. 7 A are the schematic diagrames of the aluminium alloy micro-structure of precipitation strength according to illustrative embodiments.

Fig. 7 B are the schematic diagrames of the nickel alloy micro-structure of precipitation strength according to illustrative embodiments.

Fig. 8 is in the interior zone with silica micro structure manufactured according to illustrative embodiments with the micro- knot of recrystallization The schematic cross section of the glassy metal fine sheet of the surface region of structure；With

Fig. 9 is the surface region according to illustrative embodiments for being configured to chemical modification metal material fine sheet product Equipment schematic cross section.

Specific implementation mode

Include the method for heat-treated metal material Applicants have realized that needing the heat treatment of improvement metal material With system and obtained heat-treated metal material itself.For example, thin metal material sheet material can be used for many applications, including with In heat exchanger, aerospace applications, cooker, tableware, Equipment for Heating Processing, alternative energy source component and construction material.Metal material, Here term includes simple metal, alloy, intermetallic compound and glassy metal, can be processed to have extensive micro- knot Structure and mechanical performance.Compared with ceramics and glass, metal material, especially alloy can provide high intensity and excellent extension Property.In addition, metal material is typically conductive and in electrical applications.

The prior heat treatment of metal material is generally included metallic material product (product) being placed in stove at high temperature and be held Continuous a period of time, product and cooling are then taken out from stove.In the case where product is subjected to cold working, the heat treatment of product can be led Cause the recrystallization of the micro-structure of product.The heat treatment of product can also reduce the residual stress in product, without making product Micro-structure recrystallizes.When product is made of the metal or alloy with high-temperature-phase and Different hypothermia phase (such as with austenite height The iron or steel of warm phase (γ) and ferrite low-temperature phase (α)) when, the heat treatment of product can be provided with ferrite low-temperature phase and volume The product micro-structure of outer metastable phase.In addition, the heating of product and controlled cooling can provide the required of one or more metastable phases Density and spatial position.However, the prior heat treatment of product is usually directed to the large furnaces heated using big energy.Separately Outside, this stove can provide reducing atmosphere for the heat treatment of product, this uses a large amount of reducing gas such as hydrogen.

Therefore, it is necessary to the system and method for heat treated article, significantly reduces energy and/or reduce gas demand. Specifically, compared with traditional heat treatment system, the energy consumption of the technique and system heat treated article that are discussed herein reduces at least 50%.When using reducing gas during the heat treatment in the product of given classification type, compared with traditional heat treatment system, The amount of required reducing gas is reduced by more than 50% by method described herein and system.

Method described herein and system are heat-treated system by heating and/or cooling product while being supported with gas Product.In some embodiments, gas can be mobile, and in further embodiment, and gas can move system Product.Thermal energy can be transmitted to product come heating product by the heating gap between heat source and product from heat source so that 20% with On leave the thermal energy of heat source heating passed through gap and can be received by product.Moreover, can by by the thermal energy of product pass through product and Cooling gap between radiator and be transmitted to radiator from product and carry out refrigerated product so that 20% or more leaves the thermal energy of product It can be received across cooling gap and by radiator.In embodiments, 50% or more the thermal energy difference for leaving heat source or product Across heating gap or cooling gap, and can be received respectively by article component or radiator.Heat gap or cooling gap Can with heat source outer surface and product between or the average thickness between product and the outer surface of radiator, be smaller than 200 Micron is less than 180 microns, is less than 160 microns, is less than 140 microns, is less than 120 microns, is less than 100 microns, is less than 80 microns, Less than 60 microns, it is less than 40 microns or less than 20 microns.Rate of heat transfer from heat source to product during heating, or in cooling Rate of heat transfer of the period from product to radiator can be respectively greater than 50 kilowatts of every square metre of (kW/m²), it is more than 100kW/m², it is more than 150kW/m², it is more than 200kW/m², it is more than 250kW/m², it is more than 300kW/m 2, is more than 350kW/m²m², it is more than 450kW/m², greatly In 550kW/m², it is more than 650kW/m², it is more than 750kW/m², it is more than 1000kW/m²Or it is more than 1200kW/m², for the outer of heat source The area on surface or the area of outer surface for product.

The product can be sheet material, cylindrical bar, the forms such as hexagonal bar.When product is sheet-form, product has Length, width and thickness.In embodiments, the thickness of sheet material is smaller than 3mm, is less than 2mm, is less than 1.5mm, is less than 1.0mm, Less than 0.5mm, it is less than about 0.25mm, is less than about 0.1mm, be less than 0.08mm, is less than 0.06mm, or be less than 0.04mm.Width and At least one of length is more than five times of sheet thickness.When product is in rod-shaped, bar has average diameter and length.Implementing In mode, the diameter of bar is smaller than 10mm, is less than 9mm, is less than 8mm, is less than 7mm, is less than 6mm, is less than 5mm, is less than 4mm, small In 3mm, it is less than 2mm, is less than 1mm, be less than 0.8mm, be less than 0.6mm, be less than 0.4mm, be less than 0.2mm or is less than 0.1mm.

It can be the air gap for having interval area to heat gap or cooling gap, and enters the gross mass of the gas of air gap Flow velocity can be more than 0 and be less than 2k/gCp/ square metres of interval area, and wherein k is the gas in the air gap assessed on heat transfer direction The thermal conductivity of body, g are between heat source and heating product or the distance between product and spreader surface, and Cp is gas in air gap Specific heat capacity.

In embodiments, product can be made of Al based alloys, and can carry out solution heat treatment to Al based alloy products And quenching, to provide precipitation strength (also referred to as precipitation-hardening or age-hardening) product with the residual stress reduced.In addition, Al based alloy products can be cold worked, and then be heated by heat source so that the Al based alloy products micro-structures of cold working are sent out Raw recrystallization.The Al based alloy products that recrystallization can controllably be cooled down, to prevent the micro- knot of Al based alloy products of recrystallization The undesirable grain growth of structure.

In embodiments, product can be made of Cu based alloy products, and can Cu based alloy products be carried out with solid solution heat Processing, quenching and aging, to provide the precipitation strength product with the residual stress reduced.In addition, Cu based alloy products can be with It is cold worked, is then heated by heat source so that the Cu based alloy products micro-structures of cold working recrystallize.It can be controllable The Cu based alloy products of the cooling recrystallization in system ground, to prevent the undesirable crystal grain of the Cu based alloy products micro-structures of recrystallization from giving birth to It is long.

In embodiments, product can be made of Fe based alloys, and Fe based alloy products can pass through solution annealing so that The micro-structure of Fe based alloys is entirely austenite, is then cooled down to provide with ferrite and the desired amount of pearlite (including not Containing pearlite) micro-structure.In other embodiments, solution annealing can be carried out to Fe based alloy products so that Fe based alloys Micro-structure can be entirely austenite, then cool down to provide with ferrite and the desired amount of bainite and/or martensite Micro-structure.The Fe based alloy products of solution annealing can be cooled down, to which retained austenite can reside in Fe based alloy products In micro-structure.Fe based alloy products can be cold worked, and then be heated by heat source so that the Fe based alloy products of cold working Micro-structure recrystallizes.The Fe based alloy products that recrystallization can controllably be cooled down, to prevent the Fe based alloys of recrystallization The undesirable grain growth of product micro-structure.For the purpose of this disclosure, term " solution annealing " refers in high temperature matrix phase The heat treatment of the middle solid solution for generating alloying element.It should be understood that high temperature matrix can be mutually identical as low temperature discrete phase Phase, for example, face-centered cubic (FCC) austenite for Ni based alloys, or can be the phase different from low-temperature phase, for example, FCC austenites and BCC ferrites for Fe based alloys.

In embodiments, product can be made of Ni based alloys, and Ni based alloy products can pass through solution annealing so that The micro-structure of Ni based alloys can be entirely austenite (face-centered cubic-FCC), and it is heavy with the second required phase to provide then to cool down The micro-structure of starch.This second phase sediment may include Ni₃Al (γ ' (gamma prime)) sediment, carbide precipitation Object, nitrides precipitate object and/or carbonitride precipitates.Ni based alloy products can be cold worked, and then be added by heat source Heat so that the Ni based alloy products micro-structures of cold working recrystallize.The Ni based alloys of recrystallization can controllably be cooled down Product, to prevent the undesirable grain growth of the Ni based alloy products micro-structures of recrystallization.The product can be by other types Alloy be made, and be heat-treated and cooled down, with the product micro-structure needed for providing.It should be understood that alloy product Micro-structure and the mechanical performance of product can be closely related.Therefore, alloy product can be heated and is cooled down, to provide The combination of required intensity and ductility.

As an example, Fig. 1 shows the illustrative embodiments of the metal heat treatmet system 300 according to the disclosure.Fig. 1 shows The schematic cross section of system 300 is gone out, wherein can be by the heat transfer from heat source to product come heating product (sheet material) And by conducting heat to heat conduction radiator from product via gas come refrigerated product.Metal heat treatmet system 300 includes Hot-zone 310, cold-zone 330 and transition gas bearing 320.Transition gas bearing 320 is by product (for example, metal material sheet material (piece Material) 400a) it moves or is guided to cold-zone 330 from hot-zone 310 so that it is not in contact between sheet material and bearing or substantially not It is in contact.Hot-zone 310 has gas bearing 312, and each gas bearing 312 is fed from hot-zone gas chamber 318, and bearing 312 With the heat source 314 to insert in the hole by bearing 312, it is used to hot-zone gas bearing 312 being heated to desired heat treatment work Skill temperature.Heat source 314 can be resistance heat source or sensing heating heat source.In embodiments, heat source 314 can have towards channel 316 outer surface 314a, and outer surface 314a can provide infrared heating.Sheet material (hot-zone) 400a may remain in hot-zone gas The sufficiently long time is to reach desired heat treatment temperature (for example, stress elimination temperature, solution annealing between bearing 312 Temperature, high-temperature-phase annealing temperature, age hardening temperatures etc.).

In some embodiments, heating product can mainly come from radiator by via thin gas shield in hot-zone Heat transfer complete.The conduction heating process used in hot-zone can be similar to cooling procedure as described herein, but therewith (for example, heat is pushed into product) on the contrary.As shown in Figure 1, hot-zone 310 includes the one or more that adjacent channel 316 is arranged Heat source 314.Using two heat sources, this heat source can be arranged on the opposite side in channel 316, across outer surface Path clearance 316a between 314a is facing with each other.In some embodiments, heat source includes to form gas bearing 312 one The multiple hole 314b divided, and the outer surface 314a of the hot-gas bearing 312 of hot-zone 310 is used as two heat source surfaces.Due to channel Low gas flow rate in 316 and can be the small size that path clearance 316a is provided, can heat sheet material in hot-zone 310 400a, this is mainly conducted by carrying out the heat of self-heat power 314 across path clearance 316a and enters sheet material 400a, without piece Material 400a contact heat source outer surfaces 314a.

In some embodiments, heat source and/or its surface can be segmentations.In some embodiments, heat source can To be porous, and in such an embodiment, the gas of gas bearing 312 can be porous dissipate by the hole of its conveying The hole of hot device.Multiple hole 314b, gas source and path clearance 316a can be in fluid communication.In some embodiments, gas stream Via 314b in path clearance 316a to form air cushion, layer or bearing.The air cushion of some embodiments prevents sheet material 400a from connecing Touch 314 surface of heat source.The gas is also served as can heat sheet material 400a in this way via conducting by it via convection current Gas.

In some embodiments, the gas heat source 314 of hole 314b is flowed through.In some embodiments, hole is flowed through Gas not only improve from heat source 314 across gap 316a and enter the heat transfer of sheet material 400a, and go back heat source 314. Under some cases, heat source 314 can be carried out using individual gas or liquid.For example, heat source 314 may include that pipeline (does not show Go out), for making heat gas or liquid flow through wherein with heat source 314.The pipeline can be closed.

Using two heat source (that is, the first heat source and Secondary Heat Sources), one or more gases can be used Source provides gas to path clearance 316a.Air source may include mutually the same gas or different gas.Therefore, path clearance 316a may include a kind of gas, the admixture of gas from gas with various source or identical gas source.Example gases include sky Gas, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium or other inert gases, hydrogen nd various combinations thereof.When gas is starting conduction heating sheet material When advancing into channel 316 of 400a can describe gas by its thermal conductivity.In some cases, gas can have following Thermal conductivity：About (for example, positive or negative 1%) 0.02W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.025W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.03W/ (mK) or Higher, about 0.035W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.04W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.045W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.05W/ (mK) Or higher, about 0.06W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.07W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.08W/ (mK) or bigger, about 0.09W/ (mK) Or higher, about 0.1W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.15W/ (mK) or bigger, or about 0.2W/ (mK) or higher.

Method described herein and system allow high heat transfer rate, as described above, its permission is quickly and controlled in sheet material Ground heats, and allows the quick of exterior surface area, part and the controlled heat of fine sheet.Gas is used air as, piece is utilized Gap between material and radiator only may be implemented rate of heat transfer by conduction and be up to 50 kilowatts of every square metre of (kW/m²), it is more than 100kW/m², it is more than 150kW/m², it is more than 200kW/m², it is more than 250kW/m², it is more than 300kW/m², it is more than 350kW/m², it is more than 450kW/m², it is more than 550kW/m², it is more than 650kW/m², it is more than 750kW/m², it is more than 1000kW/m², or it is more than 1200kW/m²Or Higher.Using helium or hydrogen, 5000kW/m may be implemented²Or higher rate of heat transfer.Therefore, cold-zone 330 is available cold But rate be equal to the product that is heat-treated in heat treatment system 300 carry out furnace cooling but, the cooling of air cooling and/or water quenching Rate (1000-4000kW/m²)。

In some embodiments, the gap 316a between hot-zone gas bearing 312 and sheet material 400a can be relatively large, About 0.05 " (1.27mm) to 0.125 " (3.175mm) or bigger, because sheet material 400a can will be relatively slowly be heated, and And it can be enough to be applicable in the purpose from hot gas bearing 312 to the heat radiation of sheet material 400a.In other embodiments, hot-zone gap Size may diminish to it is every at 150 microns or per while 500 microns.In some embodiments, it may be advantageous in smaller gap, Because they make bearing have better " rigidity "-that is, sheet material can be made to concentrate and therefore make it when soft state at which It flattens.In some embodiments, which can be reshaped to sheet material in initial heating step and (make its planarization), Such as the pressure provided by air bearing 312.In some embodiments, top and bottom hot-zone bearing can be in actuator On, allow to change gap width in a continuous manner, alternatively, when the gap is large allow sheet material enter hot-zone then compression clearance with Sheet material makes sheet material flatten while still soft.

The technological temperature of hot-zone and/or cold-zone depends on many factors, including sheet material forms, sheet thickness, sheet properties (CTE etc.) and required heat treatment level (such as stress elimination, solution annealing etc.).In general, initiated process temperature can be ring Any value between border temperature and sheet material fusing point.For example, for mild steel, system 300 sheet material 400a is heated to about (for example, Positive or negative 1%) 780 DEG C to about 820 DEG C of temperature.For age-hardenable aluminium alloys, for example, system 300 heats sheet material To about 530 DEG C of solution annealing temperature, about 410 DEG C of annealing temperature and/or about 175 DEG C of aging precipitation heat treatment temperature.It is right In the nickel alloy of solution strengthening, for example, sheet material is heated to about 1150 DEG C of solution annealing temperature by system 300.For can timeliness The nickel alloy of hardening, for example, sheet material is heated to about 1080 DEG C of solution annealing temperature, about 995 DEG C of the first timeliness by system 300 Cure process temperature, about 845 DEG C of the second age-hardening treatment temperature and about 760 DEG C of third age-hardening treatment temperature. Between first age-hardening treatment temperature and the second age-hardening treatment temperature, and from the second age-hardening treatment temperature to Three age-hardening treatment temperatures, can be with one or more required cooling rate cooling sheet materials, so as to be provided to sheet material Furnace cooling but, the quenching of air cooling, water, or with furnace cooling but, air cooling or water be quenched between relevant cooling rate some are cold But rate.In addition, sheet material can move back and forth between hot-zone 310 and cold-zone 330, so as to for sheet material provide required heating and Cooling cycle.

Sheet material 400a can be heated to the starting heat treatment temperature (for example, solution annealing temperature) needed for it, then can be with It is moved to cold-zone 330 to carry out controlled cooling from hot-zone 310 using any suitable method.In some embodiments, Sheet material 400a is moved to cold-zone 330 from hot-zone 310 to realize for example, by following：(1) entire component is tilted to make Compel to be moved into cold-zone with the gravity on sheet material, (2) prevent the air-flow of the leftmost side outlet from hot-zone 310 (in the reality The side in mode is applied to be closed), it is exported to force from all gas that all gas bearing is sent out from the rightmost side of cold-zone Discharge, to generate fluid force on sheet material 400a and be moved into cold-zone 330, or (3) pass through the combination of (1) and (2).

Transition gas bearing 320 can supply gas by transition bearing pumping chamber 328.The surface of transition gas bearing 320 Subsequent solid material thickness can be thin, have low thermal mass and/or lower thermal conductivity, allow to reduce from hot-zone 310 to cold The heat transfer in area 330.Transition gas bearing 320 may be used as the thermal destruction between two regions 310 and 330 or transition, and It can be used for being transitioned into downwards the small―gap suture 336 in cold-zone domain 330 from the larger gap 316a of hot-zone.In addition, transition gas bearing 320 low thermal mass and/or lower thermal conductivity limits the amount transmitted, therefore sheet material 400a is passing through transition gas bearing 320 Shi Jingli is cooled down.

Once sheet material 400a (hot-zone) is moved to cold-zone 330 and enters channel 330a, can be by electromechanical stop or any Other suitable blocking mechanisms (as shown in stop door 341) prevent sheet material 400b (cold-zone) from leaving right-side outlet.Once sheet material 400b is fully cooled, and can move stop door 341, unlocks cold-zone channel 330a, then can remove sheet material from system 300 400b.If desired, sheet material 400b can be stayed in cold-zone 330, until before the removal close to room temperature or below room temperature.

As described above, in hot-zone 310, sheet material 400a can be heated to required temperature, and cold-zone 330 includes channel Sheet material 400a is transported in cold-zone 330, and for receiving heating sheet material 400a by the 330b that is open in cold-zone 330 by 330a Cooling sheet material 400b.In one or more embodiments, channel 330a includes transport system, which may include gas Bearing, idler wheel, conveyer belt or other devices by sheet material physically to transport through cold-zone.As shown in Figure 1, cold-zone 330 includes gas Body bearing 332, gas bearing 332 supply pumping chamber 338, pumping chamber 338 and hot-zone pumping chamber 318 and transition bearing pumping chamber 328 separate.

As shown in Figure 1, cold-zone 330 includes one or more radiators 331 of adjacent channel 330a settings.Using two In the case of radiator, this radiator can be arranged on the opposite side of channel 330a, across the faces each other path clearance 330a It is right.In some embodiments, radiator includes the multiple hole 331a for the part to form gas bearing 332, and cold-zone 330 Cold air bearing 332 surface be used as two spreader surfaces.Due to the low gas flow rate and path clearance in the 330a of channel The small size of 330a, sheet material 400b can be cooled down in cold-zone 330, mainly pass through gap by the heat from sheet material 400b And enter solid radiator 331, contact spreader surface without sheet material 400b.

In some embodiments, radiator and/or its surface can be segmentations.As described above, in some embodiment party In formula, radiator can be porous, and in such an embodiment, and the gas of gas bearing 332 can be defeated by its The hole sent is the hole of porous radiator.Multiple hole 332b, gas source and path clearance 330a can be in fluid communication.In some implementations In mode, gas stream via 331a in path clearance 330a to form air cushion, layer or bearing.The air cushion of some embodiments is anti- 331 surface of limited step material 400b contact radiators.The gas is also served as can be via conduction rather than via convection current come cold by it But gas as sheet material 400b.

In some embodiments, the gas cooling radiator of hole 331a is flowed through.In some embodiments, hole is flowed through Gas had both promoted the heat transfer for passing through gap to enter radiator from sheet material, and also cooled down radiator 331.In some cases, Radiator 331 can be cooled down using individual gas or liquid.For example, radiator 331 may include pipeline 334, for making Cooling gas or liquid flow through wherein to cool down radiator 331.Pipeline 334 can be closed.

Using two radiator (that is, the first radiator and second radiators), one or more can be used A gas source provides gas to path clearance 330a.Air source may include mutually the same gas or different gas.Therefore, channel Gap 330a may include a kind of gas, the admixture of gas from gas with various source or identical gas source.Example gases packet Include air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium or other inert gases, hydrogen nd various combinations thereof.In embodiments, gas can To be hydrogen, heat treatment system 300 is used as bright annealing furnace, i.e., makes the stove of annealing sheets, anti-limited step in reducing environment Material surface oxidation simultaneously restores most of oxides present on sheet surface, to provide the annealed sheet with " light " surface Material.Fast transfers of the sheet material 400a from hot-zone 310 to cold-zone 330 can be quickly cooled down rate to sheet material 400b offers, for example, phase When the cooling rate being quenched in water.It should be understood that this " water quenching " type cooling provides and is not suitable for current light at present The cooling rate of bright annealing furnace.

When gas is starting to conduct when advancing into channel 330a of cooling sheet material 400b, can be described by its thermal conductivity Gas.In some cases, gas can have following thermal conductivities：About (for example, positive or negative 1%) 0.02W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.025W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.03W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.035W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.04W/ (mK) or higher, About 0.045W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.05W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.06W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.07W/ (mK) or higher, About 0.08W/ (mK) or bigger, about 0.09W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.1W/ (mK) or higher, about 0.15W/ (mK) or bigger, or About 0.2W/ (mK) or higher.

Method described herein and system allow high heat transfer rate, as described above, it allows even in very thin sheet material The interior temperature difference for forming reinforcement degree.Gas is used air as, it, only can by conduction using the gap between sheet material and radiator To realize that rate of heat transfer is up to 50,100,150,200,250,300,350,450,550,650,750,1000 and 1200kW/m² Or higher.Using helium or hydrogen, 5000kW/m may be implemented²Or higher rate of heat transfer.

The radiator 331 of one or more embodiments can be static, or can be moveable logical to change The thickness of road gap 330a.The thickness of sheet material 400b can be in the thickness of path clearance 300a about 0.4 again to about 0.6 times of model In enclosing, the path clearance be defined as radiator 331 apparent surface (for example, in the arrangement of Fig. 1 radiator 331 upper table The distance between face and lower surface).In some cases, path clearance can be configured as with enough thickness so that add The sheet material of heat can be cooled down by conducting by convection current.

In some embodiments, the path clearance in hot-zone 310 and/or cold-zone 330 can have a thickness that so that When sheet material 400a or 400b are transmitted through or are located in channel 316a or 330a, main surface and the heat of sheet material 400a or 400b The distance between source surface or spreader surface (for example, gaps discussed above size) can be about (for example, positive or negative 1%) 100 μm or bigger (such as following ranges：About 100 μm to about 200 μm, about 100 μm to about 190 μm, about 100 μm to about 180 μm, About 100 μm to about 170 μm, about 100 μm to about 160 μm, about 100 μm to about 150 μm, about 110 μm to about 200 μm, about 120 μm extremely About 200 μm, about 130 μm to about 200 μm or about 140 μm to about 200 μm).In some embodiments, path clearance can have There is such thickness so that when sheet material 400a or 400b are transmitted through channel 316 or 330a, sheet material and heat source surface or scattered The distance between hot device surface (one or more gap 316a or 330a), can be about (for example, 100 μm of positive or negative 1%) or Smaller (such as following ranges：About 10 μm to about 100 μm, about 20 μm to about 100 μm, about 30 μm to about 100 μm, about 40 μm to about 100 μm, about 10 μm to about 90 μm, about 10 μm to about 80 μm, about 10 μm to about 70 μm, about 10 μm to about 60 μm, or about 10 μm To about 50 μm).The overall thickness of path clearance 316a or 330a can depend on the thickness of sheet material 400a or 400b, but usually may be used To be characterized as 2 times of heat source surface or the distance between spreader surface and sheet material (adding sheet thickness).In some embodiment party In formula, sheet material may be unequal with the distance between heat source or radiator or gap 316a or 330a.In such embodiment In, the overall thickness of path clearance 316a or 330a can be characterized as between sheet material and each heat source surface or sheet material and each radiator table The distance between face is plus the sum of sheet thickness.

In some cases, the overall thickness of path clearance 316a or 330a is smaller than about (for example, 2500 μm of positive or negative 1%) (such as following ranges：About 120 μm to about 2500 μm, about 150 μm to about 2500 μm, about 200 μm to about 2500 μm, about 300 μm extremely About 2500 μm, about 400 μm to about 2500 μm, about 500 μm to about 2500 μm, about 600 μm to about 2500 μm, about 700 μm to about 2500 μm, about 800 μm to about 2500 μm, about 900 μm to about 2500 μm, about 1000 μm to about 2500 μm, about 120 μm to about 2250 μm, about 120 μm to about 2000 μm, about 120 μm to about 1800 μm, about 120 μm to about 1600 μm, about 120 μm to about 1500 μm, about 120 μm to about 1400 μm, about 120 μm to about 1300 μm, about 120 μm to about 1200 μm, or about 120 μm to about 1000 μm).One In the case of a little, the overall thickness of path clearance can be about 2500 μm or bigger (such as following ranges：About 2500 μm to about 10,000 μ M, about 2500 μm to about 9,000 μm, about 2500 μm to about 8,000 μm, about 2500 μm to about 7,000 μm, about 2500 μm to about 6, 000 μm, about 2500 μm to about 5,000 μm, about 2500 μm to about 4,000 μm, about 2750 μm to about 10,000 μm, about 3000 μm extremely About 10,000 μm, about 3500 μm to about 10,000 μm, about 4000 μm to about 10,000 μm, about 4500 μm to about 10,000 μm, or About 5000 μm to about 10,000 μm).

Hole 331a in radiator 331 may be positioned such that perpendicular to spreader surface, or may be positioned such that from perpendicular to Spreader surface plays 20 degree or smaller angle, for example, about (for example, 15 degree of positive or negative 1%) or smaller, about 10 degree or smaller or About 5 degree or smaller.

In some embodiments, the subsequent material in radiator (cold air bearing 332) surface can be with high heat transfer Any suitable material of rate, including metal (for example, stainless steel, copper, aluminium), ceramics, carbon etc..The material and transition gas bearing The 320 subsequent material in surface compared to can be relatively thick, as shown in Figure 1, to radiator can easily receive it is relatively large The thermal energy of amount.In the exemplary embodiment, the material of radiator 331 can be stainless steel.

With reference to Fig. 2, metal heat treatmet system 300 can handle metal sheet in a continuous manner shown in Fig. 1.The heat Processing system 300 is similar to heat treatment system 300 shown in Fig. 1, the difference is that by from 305 heat treated system of feed roller 300 supply sheet materials 400 and heat treatment sheet material 400 are wound up into outlet roller 335 after leaving heat treatment system 300, by this Heat treatment system 300 can continuously handle sheet material 400.When sheet material 400 enters hot-zone 310, it can be such as above for piece Material 400a is heated as discussing.Sheet material 400 continue across transition gas bearing 320 and enter cold-zone 330, herein it It is cooled as discussed above for sheet material 400b.It should be appreciated that speed of the sheet material 400 by heat treatment system 300, The rate of heat addition of the sheet material 400 in hot-zone 310, heat treatment temperature of the sheet material 400 in hot-zone 310, the sheet material in cold-zone 330 400 cooling rate provides the heat-treated metal material sheet with required micro-structure and mechanical performance through designing and implementing.

It shows referring now to Fig. 1-3, Fig. 3 and sheet material 400 is heat-treated by the heat treatment system 300 in Fig. 2 Later, it is heat-treated the sheet material 400 using another processing system 300.Specifically, the heat treatment system 300 in Fig. 2 passes through One heating and cooling heat treatment cycle are heat-treated sheet material 400, and the heat treatment system 300 in Fig. 3 adds by second But heat treatment cycle is heat-treated sheet material 400 to hot and cold.The feed roller 305 in heat treatment system 300 in Fig. 2 Sheet material 400 can enter heating zone 310 and is heat-treated, as above for described in the sheet material 400a in Fig. 1-2.Sheet material 400 from Hot-zone 310 is moved, and by transition gas bearing 320 and is entered cold-zone 330, can be heat-treated herein to it, needle as above Described in the sheet material 400b in Fig. 1-2.When heat treated sheet material 400 leaves cold-zone 330, it can be wound up into Fig. 2 In the outlet roller 335 of heat treatment system 300.Between the feed roller 305 and outlet roller 335 of heat treatment system 300 in fig. 2, Sheet material 400 can undergo the first heating and cooling heat treatment cycle.It then can be by the outlet of the heat treatment system 300 in Fig. 2 Roller 335 is used as the feed roller 305 of the heat treatment system 300 in Fig. 3.Similar to the heat treatment system 300 in Fig. 2, in Fig. 2 Heat treatment system 300 heat treatment sheet material 400, can be the feed roller 305, Ke Yijing of the heat treatment system 300 in Fig. 3 Go through another (second) heating and cooling heat treatment cycle.It should be appreciated that can use more than two as disclosed herein Heat treatment system carrys out heat-treated metal material product, to provide more than two heating and cooling heat treatment cycle.

It is shown by metal heat treatmet system 300 in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 or by more in Fig. 3 referring now to Fig. 1-4, Fig. 4 The time of the sheet material of one of a heat treatment system and the figure of temperature.In embodiments, and as shown in figure 4, sheet material 400 into There is the temperature (for example, environment temperature) between T1-T2, when into hot-zone 310 before entering the hot-zone 310 of heat treatment system 300 Sheet material 400a is heated to the heat treatment temperature (for example, solution annealing temperature) between T3-T4 in hot-zone 310.Sheet material 400a Scheduled time quantum can be kept under the heat treatment temperature between T3-T4, and cold-zone is then entered by transition gas bearing 320 330, the temperature being here cooled to sheet material 400b with scheduled and required cooling rate between T5-T6.Hereafter, it can incite somebody to action Sheet material 400b is from the temperature (for example, environment temperature) taken out in cold-zone 330 and between making it be cooled further to T1-T2.Alternatively, Sheet material 400b can be cooled and be maintained at the temperature between the T5-T6 in cold-zone 330, then be cooled and maintained in cold-zone 330 T1-T2 between temperature, then sheet material 400b leave cold-zone domain area 330.Sheet material 400b is cooled to from the temperature between T3-T4 The cooling rate of temperature between T5-T6 can be cooled to sheet material 400b from the temperature between T5-T6 the temperature between T1-T2 Cooling rate it is identical or different.

Fig. 5 A and 5B show the recrystallization for the product for having already passed through processing hardening (also referred to as strain hardening and cold working). The product has undergone the micro-structure for being plastically deformed and showing the processing hardening in Fig. 5 A (for example, in plastic history The crystal grain extended on direction).After being heated to the required recrystallization temperature lasting required time in hot-zone 310, micro- knot occurs The recrystallization of structure, as shown in Figure 5 B.Moreover, the cooling of product controls grain growth in cold-zone 330, that is, prevent mistake after recrystallization The grain growth of degree.The recrystallization of this product can be provided by heat treatment system 300 and be used for various metal materials, including but not Be limited to business simple metal, such as business pure Al, Cu, Cr, Ni, Nb, Fe, Mg, Mo, Ag, Ta, Ti, W, Zr, Au, Pt or any its His commercially available simple metal and alloy such as Al based alloys, Cu based alloys, Cr based alloys, Ni based alloys, Nb alloys, Fe based alloys, Mg Alloy, Mo alloys, Ag alloys, Ta alloys, Ti alloys, W alloy, Zr alloys, Au alloys or other known alloys.

Fig. 6 A-6C show the exemplary microstructures of the product handled by heat treatment system 300.For example, can be with Steel sheets are heat-treated in heat treatment system 300, so as to provide the ferrite base with the desired amount of pearlite Matter, as shown in Figure 5A.Alternatively, can be heat-treated to steel sheets, so as to providing with the desired amount of bainite and/or The ferrite matrix of martensite, as shown in Figure 5 B.Furthermore it is possible to be heat-treated to steel sheets so that can provide without pearl The ferrite matrix of body of light and other the second phases, as shown in Figure 5 C.

With reference to figure 6A, the exemplary microstructures for the Al based alloys being heat-treated via metal heat treatmet system 300 are shown. Heat treatment system 300 heats and cooling Al based alloys so that known " areas GP " sediment precipitates in entire alloy microstructure And provide the age-hardening of material.Fig. 6 B show the exemplary of the nickel alloy handled by metal heat treatmet system 300 Micro-structure so that γ ' sediments precipitate in entire alloy microstructure and provide the precipitation strength of material.

With reference to figure 8, the representative micro-structure of the glassy metal handled by metal heat treatmet system 300 shows gold The surface region for belonging to glass thin sheet material has recrystallized, and interior zone remains with amorphous or glass form.This heat treatment Provide a kind of product, surface has the ability that anti-crack causes and extends, and it is internal have increased tensile strength and Elastic strain limit.

With reference to figure 9, in embodiments, the surface region for the product that 300 chemical modification of heat treatment system passes through.It is special Not, it shows with the one or more chemical elements (such as Cr, C, B, N, Al, Si etc.) that will be deposited on sheet material 400a Gaseous atmosphere 500.Although Fig. 9 shows the gaseous atmosphere 500 of the both sides sheet material 400a, in embodiments, heat treatment system System 300 mainly only can provide gaseous atmosphere 500 to the side of sheet material 400a.Once one or more in gaseous atmosphere 500 Chemical element is deposited on the surface of sheet material 400a, and one or more chemical elements can be diffused into the surface district of sheet material 400a In domain, thus with sheet material 400a alloyings to provide the surface of chemical modification.Alternatively, being deposited on one kind on the surfaces sheet material 400a Or a variety of chemical elements can retain on the surface, to provide the surface of chemical modification.Use chemical vapor deposition (CVD) work Skill, plasma deposition process etc. can provide or generate gaseous atmosphere 500.In embodiments, gaseous atmosphere 500 contributes to Supporting sheet 400a so that sheet material 400a is not physically contacted with heat source 314.Heat treatment system 300 with gaseous atmosphere 500 can So that the surface region chromising (chromaking) of sheet material 400a, makes the surface region carburizing (carbonization) of sheet material 400a, makes sheet material 400a's Surface region boronising (boronation) makes the surface region nitriding (nitridation) of sheet material 400a, makes the surface region aluminising (aluminium of sheet material 400a Change), make surface region siliconising (silication) of sheet material 400a and combinations thereof.

Embodiment

Device setting-is as described above, the device includes three region-hot-zones, transition region and cold-zone.Hot-zone and cold-zone Zhong Ding Gap between portion and Base Heat bearing is set as required spacing.Set the airflow rate in hot-zone, transition region and quenching area To ensure that product is placed in the middle in gas bearing.Hot-zone can be preheating to required temperature T_o, wherein product be transferred to it is cold Area will simultaneously be kept for the scheduled and required time before cooling down.Temperature T₀By the metal material of product being heat-treated and to product The specific heat treatment of progress is determined.To balance time at least dependent on product thickness.For example, for about 1.1mm or more Thin sheet material balances in about 10 seconds.For the sheet material of 3mm, balanced in about 10 seconds to 30 seconds.For thicker Sheet material, for thickness of about 6mm, equilibration time can be about 60 seconds.Once product is balanced to T₀, it can be in T₀Time needed for keeping Then amount is shifted by the transition region in gas bearing and enters cooling or quenching area.The product is cold with required cooling rate But to less than T_o(T_L) temperature, and may or may not be in T_LCold-zone in kept for the extended period, be then departed from cold Area.According to the required temperature of product when required heat treatment and/or removal, product can be kept in cold-zone from 1 second, 10 seconds, 1 point Clock, a few minutes, 1 hour, a few houres or section of longer any time.

A variety of different alloys can be heat-treated with heat treatment system disclosed herein.Providing can obtain The embodiment of this alloy and micro-structure and mechanical performance.

Aluminium alloy

Sheet form of the embodiment 1 with thickness for 1mm provides 6061 forging aluminum sheets, the weight percent of chemical composition For 0.15Mn, 0.4-0.8Si, 0.15-0.35Cr, 0.15-0.4Cu, 0.7Fe, 0.25Zn, 0.8-1.2Mg, 0.15Ti, remaining For Al and other incidental impurities.Fine sheet is annealed 2 hours 775 °F of hot-zone, is then cooled to 500 ° with the control of 50 °F/hour F, then air cooling.The material is undergone age-hardening at 350f to be heat-treated 8 hours, then air cooling is to generate T6 Temperature (temper).The mechanical performance of 6061 aluminum sheets with T6 temperature shows that average tensile strength is 45,000psi, surrender Intensity is 40,000psi, shear strength 31,000psi, and failure elongation is 12%, Brinell hardness 95.

Steel alloy

(thickness 0.5mm, the range and weight percent of chemical composition are 2 cold-rolled steel alloy sheet material of embodiment：0.085- 0.11C, 1.4-2.0Mn, 0.09-0.21Mo, 0.02-0.05Al, 0.16-0.5Si, 0.13-0.5Cr, 0.016 maximum Ti, 0.06 maximum Ni, 0.003 maximum S, 0.015 maximum P, 0.006 maximum N, surplus is iron and accidental metal impurities) gold can be passed through Belong to heat treatment system 300 to be processed, and the temperature at 760-800 DEG C in hot-zone is undergone critical (intercritical) Annealing.Hereafter, the steel alloy sheet material that critical is annealed can be quickly cooled to the temperature less than 450 DEG C in cold-zone.Quickly There is cooling sheet material ferrite-martensite microstructure, bainite content to be less than 6 volume %, and 0.2% yield strength is at least 330MPa, tensile strength are at least 590MPa, and total elongation that fails is at least 18%, and uniform elongation is at least 10%.

Cobalt and nickel solid solution strengthened alloy

Although Co bases mutually precipitated using second such as Cr- carbide, W- carbide with Ni bases solid solution strengthened alloy come The High-Temperature Strengthening of auxiliary material, but main strengthening mechanism can be in Co or Ni matrix addition and alloying various elements with It provides " solution strengthening ".

Embodiment 3 can handle one kind that there is following nominal chemical to form (wt%) by metal heat treatmet system 300 Co bases and two kinds of Ni base solid solution strengthened alloys.

Cobalt alloy (C1)：10Ni, 20Cr, 15W, 3 maximum Fe, 1.5Mn, 0.4 maximum Si, 0.10C, surplus be Co (about 51et%) and incidental impurities (can be withCommercially available from 25 alloys).

First nickel alloy (N1):22Cr, 14W, 2Mo, 3 maximum Fe, 5 maximum Co, 0.5Mn, 0.4Si, 0.3Al, 0.10C, 0.02La, 0.015 maximum B, surplus be Ni (about 57 weight %) and incidental impurities (withCommercially available from alloy).

Second nickel alloy (N2):1 maximum Mn of 22Cr 18Fe 9Mo 1.5Co 0.6W 0.10C, 1 maximum Si 0.008B, Surplus be Ni (about 47 weight %) and incidental impurities (withCommercially available from X-alloy).

The typical solution annealing temperature of the C1 and N1-N2 alloys provided by heat treatment system 300 is shown in the following table 1.It is this Solid solution strengthened alloy is usually supplied under the conditions of the micro-structure of wherein Main carbonization object is dispersed in the solution annealing in single-phase matrix.It is micro- Structure grain boundaries can be free of Main carbonization object, once and material come into operation, so that it may to provide room temperature manufacturability and height The optimal combination of warm nature energy.The heat carried out at a temperature of the solution heat treatment temperature range provided less than heat treatment system 300 Processing is referred to as mill-annealed or stress elimination heat treatment (referring to the following table 1).By forming, part is handled using mill-annealed to make The alloy material of make or other methods processing is restored to the condition of the additional deformation or welding that can carry out material.This processing The structure in production finished product raw material is can also be used for, this is best for specific shaping operation.For example, by heat treatment system The 300 mill-annealed heat treatments provided can be used for producing the micro-structure with fine grain size for deep-draw application.Pass through heat Processing system 300 can also be used for mitigating stress and avoid under full solution annealing temperature to solid solution strengthened alloy progress mill-annealed The product deformation that may occur.It should be understood, however, that the gas bearing of heat treatment system 300 supports admittedly during annealing Molten reinforced alloys, therefore can essentially make and ensure to keep final shape during high temperature solid solution annealing heat-treats.It uses Mill-annealed heat treatment often results in the secondary carbide precipitation on the crystal boundary for the material initially supplied under the conditions of solution annealing, And usually material will not be made to be restored to original sample state.

Table 1

	Typical solution annealing temperature (DEG C)	Minimum mill-annealed temperature (DEG C)
			Co alloys	1175-1230	1120
Fe- based alloys	1165-1190	1035
			Ni1 alloys	1165-1245	1120
Ni2 alloys	1165-1190	1010

When solution strengthening is in cold working or hot-working condition, i.e., after material cold working, pass through heat treatment system 300 The micro-structure of product would generally be changed by carrying out mill-annealed or solid heat heat treatment.The amount being previously cold worked in product influences product Gained micro-structure and mechanical performance.Previously cold working and several combinations of annealing temperature influence the micro-structure of above-mentioned alloy sheet material Result it is as shown in table 2 below.

Table 2

The business annealing furnace for being currently available for this alloy has +/- 15 DEG C of measurement tolerance, can be obtained using special equipment Obtain +/- 10 DEG C of tolerance.However, since the gap between the heat source and metallic material product in heat treatment system 300 is very small, When annealing temperature is up to 1200 DEG C, measurement tolerance may remain within +/- 8 DEG C, and in some embodiments, It is +/- between 6 DEG C, it is +/- between 4 DEG C, it is +/- between 3 DEG C, it is between +/- 2 DEG C or +/- between 1 DEG C.Therefore, the temperature control of bigger carries Increased micro-structure for the product of the embodiment heat treatment of heat treatment system disclosed herein and mechanical performance control.

Nickel age hardening alloy

Embodiment 4 can handle two kinds that there is following nominal chemical to form (wt%) by metal heat treatmet system 300 The age-hardening of Ni bases (also referred to as precipitation-hardenable or precipitable reinforcing) alloy.

First Ni bases age hardening alloy (NiAH1):13.5Co, 2 maximum Fe, 19Cr, 4.3Mo, 1.5Al, 3Ti, 0.08C, 0.1 maximum Mn, 0.15 maximum Si, 0.006B, 0.1Cu, 0.05Zr, surplus Ni (about 58 weight %) and incidental impurities (withCommercially available from Waspaloy alloys).

2nd Ni bases age hardening alloy (NiAH2):16Cr, 8Fe, 2.5Ti, 1Nb, 0.8Al, 1 maximum Co, 0.35 is maximum Mn, 0.35 maximum Sai, 0.08 maximum C, surplus Ni (about 70 weight %) and incidental impurities (withX-750 alloys WithCommercially available from X-750 alloys).

Most of intensity of Ni base age hardening alloys leads to certain model in micro-structure from heat treatment, the heat treatment The the second phase precipitation enclosed.Dominant precipitates are Ni₃Al(γ').This alloy is heat-treated to provide the micro- of precipitation-hardening Structure needs many heating and cooling step.For example, the heat treatment of typical NiAH1 alloys is to provide the micro-structure of precipitation-hardening It is included at 1080 DEG C and solution annealing 30 minutes is carried out to material, then carries out water quenching.Then by the material at 995 DEG C into Row precipitation heat treatment for the first time 2 hours, then air cooling to room temperature, then carries out second of precipitation heat treatment 4 at 845 DEG C Hour, then air cooling to room temperature, then carries out third time precipitation heat treatment 16 hours, then air cooling at 760 DEG C To room temperature.The precipitation-hardening micro-structure of gained NiAH1 provides excellent mechanical performance at a temperature of up to about 700 DEG C, such as Shown in the following table 3 (tension test performance) and table 4 (stress-fracture property).

Table 3

Table 4

For another example the heat treatment of typical NiAH2 alloys with provide the micro-structure of precipitation-hardening be included in it is right at 1040 DEG C Material carries out solution annealing, and precipitation heat treatment for the first time 8 hours is then carried out at 730 DEG C, is then cooled at 620 DEG C through stove Under second of precipitation heat treatment 8 hours, then air cooling to room temperature.The precipitation-hardening micro-structure of obtained NiAH2 exists Excellent mechanical performance is provided at a temperature of up to about 700 DEG C, as shown in the following table 5 and 6.

Table 5

Table 6

By reading whole specification, appended claims and appendix A, other aspects and advantage will be apparent.

The construction of metal material and arrangement shown in various illustrative embodiments are only illustrative.Although in this public affairs Only describe some embodiments in opening, but many improvement be it is feasible (for example, the size of various elements, scale, structure, Shape and ratio, parameter value, mounting arrangements, the use of material, orientation), this does not deviate from theme described herein inherently Novel teachings and advantage.Being shown as some integrally formed elements can be made of multiple components or element, the position of element It can overturn or otherwise change, and can change or change the property or quantity of discrete elements or position.Arbitrary mistake Journey, the sequence of logical algorithm or method and step or sequence can all change or resequence according to the embodiment of replacement.Not Be detached from the technology of the present invention range in the case of, can in the design, operating condition and arrangement of various illustrative embodiments into Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions of row.

Claims

1. a kind of method of heat-treated metal material, including：

Metal product is heated and/or cooled, the product is supported during heating and/or cooling with gas；

Wherein, by the way that thermal energy is transmitted to product come heating product through the heating gap between heat source and product from heat source so that 20% or more the thermal energy for leaving heat source passes through heating gap and is received by product；

Wherein, by the way that thermal energy is transmitted to radiator come refrigerated product through the cooling gap between product and radiator from product, So that 20% or more the thermal energy for leaving product passes through cooling gap and is received by radiator.

2. the method as described in claim 1, wherein 50% or more leaves heat source or the thermal energy of product is each passed through heating gap Or it cooling gap and is received respectively by product or radiator.

3. the method as described in any one of claim 1-2, wherein the heating gap or the cooling gap are with described Between the outer surface of heat source and the adjacent surface of the product or outer surface of the adjacent surface of the product and the radiator Between average thickness, be less than about 10mm, 5mm, 2mm, 1mm, 800 μm, 600 μm, 400 μm or 200 μm.

4. method as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein area for heat source outer surface or for product appearance The area in face, the rate of heat transfer from product to radiator is respectively greater than about from heat source to product or during cooling during heating 50kW/m²、100kW/m²、150kW/m²、200kW/m²、250kW/m²、300kW/m²、350kW/m²、450kW/m²、550kW/m²、 650kW/m²、750kW/m²、1000kW/m²Or 1200kW/m²。

5. the method as described in any one of claim 1-4, wherein the product is the piece for having length, width and thickness Material, wherein the thickness is greater than about 0.1mm and is less than 2mm, and at least one of the width and the length are more than thickness 5 times of degree.

6. the method as described in any one of claim 1-5, wherein heating gap or cooling gap have interval area Air gap, wherein into air gap gas total mass flow rate be more than 0 and be less than 2k/gCp/ square metres of interval area, wherein k be The thermal conductivity for the gas in air gap assessed on heat transfer direction, g are the distance between heating product and spreader surface, and Cp is The specific heat capacity of gas in air gap.

7. the method as described in any one of claim 1-6, wherein the metal material is selected from：Polycrystalline Metals material, monocrystalline Metal material and metal glass material.

8. the method as described in any one of claim 1-7, wherein the metal material is more selected from simple metal and alloy Crystalline metal material.

9. the method as described in any one of claim 1-8, wherein the Polycrystalline Metals material is closed selected from aluminium alloy, copper The alloy of gold, ferroalloy and nickel alloy.

10. method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the alloy is the aluminium alloy heated by the heat source, and it is described The heating of aluminium alloy leads to the precipitation strength of the product.

11. method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the metal material is closed by the cold working aluminium that the heat source heats Gold, wherein the micro-structure experience recrystallization of the cold working aluminium alloy of the heating.

12. method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the metal material is the copper alloy heated by the heat source, and The heating of the copper alloy leads to the precipitation strength of the product.

13. method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the metal material is the hard cooper alloy heated by the heat source, The micro-structure experience recrystallization of the hard cooper alloy of the wherein described heating.

14. method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the metal material is the cold working ferroalloy heated by the heat source, The micro-structure experience recrystallization of the cold working ferroalloy of the wherein described heating.

15. method as claimed in claim 9 is heated to moving back wherein the metal material is ferroalloy by the heat source It fiery temperature and is cooled down with cooling rate by the radiator, the cooling rate provides micro- with the desired amount of pearlite Structure.

16. method as claimed in claim 9 is heated to iron wherein the metal material is ferroalloy by the heat source It the suitable austenitizing temperature of alloy and is cooled down with cooling rate by the radiator, the cooling rate offer has The micro-structure of the desired amount of bainite and/or martensite.

17. the method described in claim 16, wherein the cooling rate provides the micro-structure without pearlite.

18. method as claimed in claim 9 passes through the heat source wherein the metal material is the nickel alloy of cold working Recrystallization of the heating for product, and the grain growth by radiator cooling for controlling product after re-crystallization.

19. method as claimed in claim 9 is heated to closing wherein the metal material is nickel alloy by the heat source Suitable aging temperature, the aging temperature is by precipitating γ ' sediments, carbide precipitation object, nitrides precipitate object The precipitation strength of the product is provided at least one of carbonitride precipitates.

20. method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the metal material is glassy metal, the glassy metal is heated to be made The surface region of the product is obtained through recrystallization and interior zone is without recrystallization.

21. the method as described in claim 1, wherein the heating is happened in heating zone, the heating zone is configured to chemistry Change the surface region of the product.

22. method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the heating zone is configured to ooze to the offer of the surface region of the product Chromium, carburizing, boronising, nitriding, aluminising, siliconising and combinations thereof.

23. a kind of method of heat-treated metal material, including：

Metallic material product is heated and/or cooled, the product is supported during heating and/or cooling with gas；

Wherein, by the way that thermal energy is transmitted to product come heating product through the heating gap between heat source and product from heat source so that At least 50% thermal energy for leaving heat source passes through heating gap and is received by product；

Wherein, by the way that thermal energy is transmitted to radiator come refrigerated product through the cooling gap between product and radiator from product, So that at least 50% thermal energy for leaving product passes through cooling gap and is received by radiator；

The wherein described heating gap or the cooling gap are between the outer surface of the heat source and the adjacent surface of the product Or there is average thickness less than about 10mm between the product and the outer surface of the radiator；

Wherein, the rate of heat transfer from product to radiator is greater than about from heat source to product or in cooling procedure during heating 1000kW/m²。

24. a kind of metallic material product of heat treatment, including：

By being selected from Al- based alloys, Cu- based alloys, Ni- based alloys, the manufactured system of metal material of Fe- based alloys and Ti alloys Product；

The metallic material product has micro-structure due to heating and/or cooling the metal material, the metal material system Product are supported during heating and/or cooling with gas；

Added by the way that thermal energy is transmitted to metallic material product through the heating gap between heat source and metallic material product from heat source Hot metallic material product so that 20% or more the thermal energy for leaving heat source passes through heating gap and received by metallic material product；

By the way that thermal energy is transmitted to radiator through the cooling gap between metallic material product and radiator from metallic material product To cool down metallic material product so that 20% or more the thermal energy for leaving metallic material product passes through cooling gap and connect by radiator It receives,

The micro-structure is selected from：Solution strengthening micro-structure, precipitation strength micro-structure, ferrite add pearly-lustre bulk microstructure, ferrite Bainite and/or martensite microstructure, ferrite is added to add residual austenite bulk microstructure and ferrite without pearly-lustre bulk microstructure.

25. the metallic material product being heat-treated as claimed in claim 24, which is characterized in that the product is by Fe based alloy systems Standby, the Fe based alloys add martensite microstructure with ferrite and bainite is less than 6 volume %, and tensile strength is at least 590MPa, yield strength is at least 330MPa, and total failure elongation is at least 18%.

26. thermally treated metallic material product as claimed in claim 24, wherein the product is made of Al based alloys, institute It is 45,000psi to state Al based alloys to have age-hardening micro-structure, average room temperature tensile strength, and average room temperature yield strength is 40,000psi, and average room temperature failure elongation is 12%.

27. thermally treated metallic material product as claimed in claim 24, wherein the product is made of Ni based alloys, institute It is 1335MPa to state Ni based alloys to have age-hardening micro-structure, average room temperature tensile strength, and average room temperature yield strength is 910MPa, and average room temperature failure elongation is 26.6%.