Treatments
Galvanic and heat on metals and alloys
Surface and galvanic treatments
Galvanic treatments, which take place through an electrolytic process, are finishing processes that allow a metal element to be covered with another metal, in order to make it more resistant to corrosion. Examples in this sense are copper with silver or steel with zinc.
Galvanic treatments also allow to work on the aesthetics of the parts subjected to this process.
Types of Treatments
Nickel plating
Cover with a layer of Nickel to increase mechanical and corrosion resistance
Chromium plating
It is performed on a layer of Nickel. It can be shiny or matt and is intended to protect the metal from corrosion.
Sandblasting
Metal cleaning treatment in preparation for subsequent painting. It occurs through erosion of a surface layer.
Galvanizing
It consists in the application of a layer of zinc as protection from oxidation.
Vibro shot peening
It makes the metal surface smooth, shiny and homogeneous. The raw component is placed inside a machine and rubbed with steel balls.
Copper plating
Covering treatment of the surface with copper, with the aim of increasing the life of subsequently nickel and chrome plated elements.
Paintwork
Treatment that protects the metal surface from corrosion caused by atmospheric agents or pH variations
Tinning
The metal is covered with a layer of tin to increase its protection against atmospheric agents
Heat treatments
Heat treatments improve the quality of metals, thanks to the change of the characteristics of their internal structure. We perform heat treatments on aluminium, steel, copper, brass and bronze.
What is a heat treatment
It is a process that allows the microstructure of a metal to be altered by exploiting multiple thermal cycles (heating, holding and cooling) with the aim of enhancing its future use in any sector. The metal component will generally be more resistant to high temperatures, hard and ductile, thus avoiding its deterioration over time.
Type of Thermal Treatments
The heat treatments are divided according to the set temperature. The heat treatments with temperatures above the critical point of the metal are:
- Full annealing
- Isothermal Annealing
- Normalization
- Hardening
Treatments with temperatures below the critical range are:
- Soft annealing or improvement of workability Stress relieving
- Tempering
- Stabilization
- Heat treatments available
Heat treatments available
Full annealing
Completely cancels all effects of previous treatments, including work hardening and alterations of the existing microstructure
Soft annealing
Heating treatment of the metal below the melting temperature which softens the piece and eliminates residual stresses
Normalization
Particular type of annealing performed at 70°C which refines the crystalline grain of the steel and uniforms the microstructure
Relieving
It causes a slight decrease in the internal tensions of the metal. It is the first stage of annealing.
Quenching and tempering
The sum of the two treatments eliminates martensite. The treated metal acquires a fine grain structure and characteristics suitable for subsequent use.
Tempering
Treatment similar to quenching: the metal is heated and cooled at a controlled temperature, reducing the negative effects of quenching.
Quenching
Quenching is achieved by heating and cooling the metal suddenly. The treatment increases hardness and resistance. Decreases resilience.
Cryogenic
The metal is brought to a temperature of -196°C using liquid nitrogen. In this way the metastable austenite is
transformed into martensite.
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