Gas fan quenching is the process of introducing a gas into a vacuum furnace in order to quickly and reliably cool the heat-treated parts at a controlled rate. The types of gases that can be used in this process include:
- Argon
- Helium
- Hydrogen
- Nitrogen
Sometimes, these gases are used in combination to quench parts. At INCERTEC, we use nitrogen for all of our gas quenching. There are other quenching mediums available, including oil and water, so be sure you have a thorough understanding of each method before choosing the quench that is best for your components. Need some help deciding on the best quenching process for your parts? Reach out to the experts at INCERTEC for trusted insight and proven solutions.
What Is Gas Fan Quenching?
Gas fan quenching is the process of cooling heated parts by introducing a gas into a vacuum furnace chamber after parts have undergone heat treatment. Doing this in a controlled way allows parts to be quickly and uniformly cooled without removing them from the chamber.
What Are the Three Types of Quenching?
There are three methods for quenching: oil, water and gas. Oil and water quenching can be less uniform than gas, making it more likely for the parts to be distorted during quenching. Both of these methods also require disposal of the water or oil, which adds time, effort and cost to the process. At INCERTEC we only vacuum quench with nitrogen gas, as it offers the greatest range of benefits and is versatile enough to work with all kinds of parts.
Benefits of Gas Fan Quenching
Quenching parts with nitrogen gas has many benefits — overall, the process is quick, efficient and cost-effective without sacrificing the quality of the results. Specifically, vacuum gas quenching provides uniform cooling, a bright and clean surface finish, minimizes quench cracking and is an environmentally friendly process, especially when compared to other quenching methods. The process is ideally suited for both alloys and ferrous metals, including various types of steel.
Uniform Cooling
By cooling parts evenly and uniformly, gas quenching reduces the possibility of cracking or distortions. This means the parts will keep the properties of their heat treatment and are less likely to fail during use, making the gas quenching process a good fit for parts like gears, bearings and similar automotive components that need to be as strong and structurally sound as possible to extend their service life.
Cleaner Surface Finish
Gas leaves no residue or scale behind after quenching, unlike liquid quenching mediums. This means that once parts are quenched, they have a bright, smooth surface that needs no further post treatment, making it ideal for parts that require precision — like turbines in the aerospace industry.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
Gas quenching is an environmentally friendly quenching option that does not require harmful chemicals or liquids. Nitrogen is not a harmful gas and produces no problem side effects. INCERTEC is proud to be RoHS compliant and gas quenching plays a big role in that certification.