Heat treatment of metals

NACE code 25.52 covers the heat treatment of metals, a critical process in the manufacturing industry. This process involves the controlled heating and cooling of metal parts to alter their physical and chemical properties, such as hardness, strength, and ductility. The heat treatment of metals is essential for a wide range of industries, from automotive and aerospace to construction and machinery, as it helps to improve the performance and lifespan of metal components.

The main production techniques used in the heat treatment of metals include annealing, hardening, tempering, and normalizing. Annealing involves heating the metal to a specific temperature and then slowly cooling it, which increases its ductility and softness. Hardening, on the other hand, involves rapidly cooling the metal from a high temperature, which increases its hardness and strength. Tempering is a process that follows hardening, where the metal is reheated to a lower temperature to reduce its brittleness. Normalizing is a technique used to improve the overall mechanical properties of the metal by heating it to a specific temperature and then allowing it to cool in the air.

The main inputs required for the heat treatment of metals include the raw metal materials, such as steel, aluminum, or copper, as well as specialized equipment like furnaces, quenching tanks, and tempering ovens. Additionally, the process may require the use of various cooling media, such as water, oil, or air, depending on the specific requirements of the metal being treated.

The main outputs of the heat treatment of metals are metal components with improved physical and mechanical properties, such as increased hardness, strength, and wear resistance. These heat-treated metal parts are then used in a wide range of industries, including 28.11 Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures, 29.10 Manufacture of motor vehicles, and 30.30 Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery.