The annealing of steel is a heat treatment that guarantees the resilience, ductility and workability of steel. But let’s find out specifically what it is!
What is annealing?
Annealing is a heat treatment of steel that involves heating the material to a specific temperature followed by controlled cooling. This process aims to improve the mechanical and structural properties of the steel, reducing internal stresses and making it more workable.
What is annealing used for?
The purpose of annealing is to eliminate stresses, improve the workability and ductility of steel, and reduce hardening caused by previous manufacturing processes. It is particularly crucial in restoring the crystalline structure of steel, making it less brittle and more resistant to external stresses.
The annealing process is divided into 3 stages:
- Heating: The steel is heated to a temperature between AC1 and AC3, generally between 700°C and 900°C, for a sufficient time to ensure homogeneous heating.
- Temperature maintenance: After heating, the steel is maintained at the desired temperature for an appropriate period to allow the particles to reach a state of thermodynamic equilibrium.
- Controlled cooling: Once the heating phase is complete, the steel is cooled slowly and in a controlled manner to prevent the formation of unwanted stresses. This can be done in the furnace itself or by other means of cooling, such as air or liquid.
EUROTUBI offers heat-treated aluminized steel tubes, also known as radiant steel tubes, and the entire production process (from the raw material to the finished tube) has been patented by EUROTUBI (n. 0001426013).