Dela Peña, Emee Grace G.

BSIE-2
IMP Lab
12:00 – 3:00pm

1. What are the different types of hardening process and describe each process?

a. Heat It Up

While engineers and metal workers have come up with several different types of
hardening depending on the type of metal and the results they want to see, each type
involves three basic parts: heating the metal, soaking it and then cooling it.

During the first step, heat treatment, metal workers heat the material, often at
extremely hot temperatures. Sometimes, they do this to change the the physical or chemical
composition of the metal, often to make it easier to manipulate and work with. For instance,
when some metals are exposed to temperatures higher than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit,
their internal structure changes. This can be temporary, so that metal workers can change
its shape and then have it go back to its original state. In other metals, the change is
permanent. Sometimes, that internal structure becomes stronger and tougher, making it a
better material to be used in something that requires strength, like the construction of a
skyscraper. Other times, heat treatment is used to increase the ductility of a metal. Metals
with high levels of ductility are able to withstand forces pulling at them from either end. This
is an important quality for metals like copper, which need to be pulled into thin strips of
copper wire, or gold, which is often pulled into thin strands to make jewelry.

b. Soaking and Cooling

The second part of the process is soaking the metal. Although the word
“soaking” might make you think of the way you would soak a dog in a bath after a
run though a muddy backyard, soaking in the metal-hardening process is a little
different. A metal isn’t soaked in a tub full of liquid substance. Instead, soaking in
this instance refers to making sure that once the metal has hit the desired
temperature during the heating process, it “soaks” in that heat. The timing is different
for all the different types of hardening, but in general, a metal worker has to make
sure that all of the pieces of metal reach the right temperatures for a specific amount
of time.

The third and final step in the hardening process is cooling. After metal has
been heated and allowed to soak in that heat, the metal must be cooled. Sometimes,
metals revert back to their original chemical or physical structure after this process.
Other times, metal workers make sure that the metals are altered for good.
 2. What is heat treatment process?

Heat treatment process is the controlled heating or cooling of plain carbon steel
or alloy steel. Heat treatment of steel is used to change its structure in order to obtain
certain mechanical properties. These mechanical properties could be hardness,
strength or ductility.

Types of heat treatment processes

Annealing
In annealing steel is heated to a temperature which is slightly above the
critical temperature, followed by slow cooling. Annealing is used to reduce
hardness and increases ductility.

Normalizing
Normalizing is similar to annealing, but in normalizing the heated steel is
cooled in air. Normalizing is used to remove the effect of all the previous heat
treatment processes.

Quenching
In quenching steel is heated to the critical temperature and then cooled
rapidly in water or air. Quenching is used to increase hardness and wear
resistance. In this process steel becomes brittle and its ductility is reduced.

Tempering
Tempering is reheating of quenched component to a temperature which is
below transformation range, followed by cooling at a desired rate. Tempering is
used to restore ductility and reduce the brittleness due to quenching. Selection of
a suitable heat treatment process always depends on the required properties of
the steel.

3. What are the different types of metal plating process and define each process?

There are many different types of metal plating and in its simplest definition, metal plating
is a thin covering of metal on top of another metal. This type of metal plating has been
used for hundreds of years and is a critical part of modern technology. The reasons for
metal plating are as varied as the types of metals used and the processes of plating:

 Improves corrosion resistance.

 To harden the surface
 Improve paint adhesion
 Improve the wearability of the part
 Reduces friction
 Can alter the conductivity of the material
 As a shield against radiation
 Improve the look of cheaper metals in jewelry

There are many metals used in plating:

 Gold
 Nickle
 Silk
 Tin
 Zinc
 Zinc Iron
 Copper
 Black Nickle
 Zinc Nickle
 Chrome
 Rhodium

Types of metal plating

Electroplating

There are many different types of metal plating and the process of
electroplating is probably the most well-known. It involves passing an electric
current through an electrolyte solution. Two terminals called electrodes are dipped
into the electrolyte solution, which connects them into a powered circuit.

The electrodes are the Cathode (the object being coated) and the Anode
(the metal being used as the coating. When the electricity flows through the circuit
the electrolyte splits some of the metal atoms from the anode, which are then
deposited in a thin layer on top of one of the cathode.

Many types of metals can be electroplated in this process; gold, silver, tin,
zinc, copper, chrome, nickel, platinum and lead.

Electroless Plating

When choosing a process for metal plating, one would opt for electroplating.
However, in certain cases, there is an alternative; Electroless Plating. Electroless
plating is a simpler, more cost-effective alternative to electroplating. Also known
as autocatalytic plating, this method is a way of plating without using an external
power source.
 The process itself involves plating the part in an aqueous solution and
depositing nicking. This creates a catalytic reduction of nickel ions to plates the
part, as this is a purely chemical process it does not require electricity or extra
machinery.

Electroless plating is suited to parts for which a very hard surface, better
resistant to corrosion is required. This makes this process best suited to the oil or
marine industries. Parts such as pumps or valves which are subject to corrosive
agents will typically be best suited to being electroless plated.

Immersion Plating

This is the process of applying adhering layers of nobler metals to another

metal’s surface by dipping the part into a solution of nobler metal ions. So, when
metal parts made from a material such as copper are put into the electrolyte, the
nobler metal ions will coat the parts the copper releases its electrons.

Also known as metal replacement or dip plating. Just like electroless plating,
there is no external current, it is a chemical process. Unlike electroless plating;
once the part is completely coated, the deposition of metals is halted. Immersion
coating alters the metal’s surface to improve wear and corrosion electrical
resistance and electrical conductivity. It can also alter the appearance and
reflectivity and bonding capabilities of the coated part.

Carburizing

Also known as case hardening, carburizing is a heat treating process which

produces a wear-resistant surface whilst maintaining the strength of the core.
Usually applied to low carbon steel after machining, as well as high, allow gears,
bearings, etc. Carburizing is suited to complex shapes of lower-cost materials
which can be machined easily to give a very hard surface. The process involves
heating the part in either a pit furnace or a sealed atmosphere furnace.

Then carburizing gases (usually carbon monoxide but also sodium cyanide
and barium carbonate) are introduced at temperature, with the heat and
temperature affecting the depth of carbon diffusion. The part is then either slow
cooled for quenching later or quenched directly in oil.

Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD)

PVD is a family of coating processes in which thin films are deposited on

the substrate. In the physical vapor deposition process, the solid coating material
 such as titanium, chromium or aluminum is evaporated by heat or by bombardment
with ions. During the process, a reactive gas such as nitrogen is introduced,
forming a compound with the metal vapor and depositing on the metal’s surface
as a very thin coating. This results in an extremely strong bond between the coating
and the metal part.

Some of the advantages of PVD are; very hard and corrosion resistant
surface, high-temperature resistance, and good impact strength.
Ideal for a wide range of applications:

 Aerospace
 Automotive
 Cutting Tools
 Medical
 Firearms
 Optics
 Thin films such as window tint, food packaging

Plasma Spray Coating

Plasma spray coating is one of the lesser-known types of metal plating. In

this plating process, also known as thermal spraying, molten or heat softened
material is sprayed onto a surface to provide the coating. The coating material is
injected into a very high temperature plasma flame (up to 10,000 K in heat), it is
rapidly heated and then accelerated to a high velocity onto the surface of the part
and rapidly cools to form a coating on the part’s surface.

The process produces a coating, usually to structural materials, to provide

protection against very high temperatures, for example in exhaust heat
management. It also provides resistance to corrosion, erosion and wear. The
coating can also change the appearance and electrical properties of the part.