Aluminum has long been a favorite for designers of automobiles and aircraft parts, military components, vehicles of all types, and any products that require a high strength-to-weight ratio. In order to have the necessary strength and durability after it is fabricated, the aluminum goes through a process called solution treatment, followed by aging, both of which are heat treatments performed in industrial furnaces or ovens.
Solution treatment involves heating the aluminum to a high temperature, typically 850°F to 1,150°F, and then quenching it in water or glycol, which evenly distributes the alloys contained in the aluminum and fixes the grain structure. This process is performed in a solution treat furnace.
The aging process is performed after the aluminum has been solution-treated. Aging hardens the material, giving it strength and toughness for use. The longer and hotter it is heated, the harder the material will become. Aluminum is alloyed with other elements such as magnesium, silicon, copper, and manganese. For each aluminum alloy, there is a unique range of time-temperature combinations to which it will respond.
Wisconsin Oven conveyor and batch ovens are favorites of heat treaters everywhere, well known for their high quality, precise engineering, and superior factory warranties. Wisconsin Oven designs and manufactures aluminum age ovens in over 50 standard sizes with unlimited custom sizes and conveyorized options available. We can address all the variables in your aluminum aging process, including cycle time, temperature uniformity, energy efficiency, safety, material handling, repeatability and longevity.
Aluminum Aging FAQs
What is aluminum aging?
Aluminum aging (also known as precipitation hardening) is used to increase the strength and hardness of aluminum alloys via a heating process. It works by segregating the atoms of the alloying element, such as magnesium, silicon, copper and zinc, in an orderly manner within the aluminum matrix. The required heating time and temperature is based on the specific aluminum alloy and the hardness desired, and commonly ranges from 100°C to 204°C (212°F to 400°F) for 1 to 24 hours.
What’s the difference between artificial and natural aging?
Natural aging occurs at room temperature over a very long period of time and is not a practical way to harden aluminum for most commercial and industrial applications. Artificial aging is done in an industrial oven by heating the aluminum to a temperature of 100°C to 204°C (212°F to 400°F), typically for several hours, and then cooling it to stop the aging process.
