Solar Atmospheres in Souderton, PA, recently commissioned a new vacuum furnace capable of utilizing high-pressure gas quenching at 20-Bar (about 300 PSI) to meet demanding cooling rate specifications for the heat treatment of nickel-based superalloys.
VBN Components AB in Sweden manufactures extremely wear-resistant materials and is known for "the world's hardest steel," Vibenite 290, and "the world's first 3D-printed cemented carbide," Vibenite® 480. VBN's new heat treatment machine, a so-called URQ-HIP (Uniform Rapid Quenching-Hot Isostatic Pressing), was recently inaugurated at the company.
Press quenching is a tried-and-true process for the controlled hardening of flat, circular close tolerance parts. The process ensures good dimensional control and uniform hardening, thus allowing for seamless processing post heat treatment.
