Austempering — the process HTI was built on.
One process, mastered since 1976 — plus the stress relieving, age hardening, and finishing capabilities that surround it. Here’s what HTI runs, and why austempering outperforms conventional heat treating.
What austempering does differently.
Austempering is an isothermal heat treatment. Steel is quenched in molten salt and held at temperature so it transforms to bainite rather than martensite — producing greater toughness and ductility at a given hardness, with far less distortion than conventional quench and temper.
- Bainitic transformationHeld isothermally in molten salt to form bainite — tough and ductile, not brittle.
- No hydrogen embrittlementThe salt-quench process eliminates the hydrogen embrittlement risk of conventional quenching.
- Clean surface for platingParts emerge with a clean, salt-quenched surface ideal for subsequent plating.
- Improved fatigue resistanceThe bainitic structure improves fatigue-cycle resistance in finished parts.
Austempering vs. conventional heat treating.
Not every heat treater can austemper well. HTI has built an entire company around mastering the one process — backed by on-site technical staff who help solve difficult, high-precision applications.
The capabilities around the core.
The same specialization applies to the processes that surround austempering — including materials other heat treaters turn away.
Stress Relieving
Reduces the internal stresses introduced during fabrication and forming, without compromising the integrity of the finished part.
Age Hardening — Beryllium Copper
Precipitation hardening of beryllium copper: Alloy 25 (C172) and Alloy 165 (C170), taken from H temper to HT temper.
Rust Prevention
Post-treatment oil dip and spin for clean, corrosion-protected parts ready for the next operation.
What we run — and how.
From high-carbon and alloy steels to beryllium copper, and from first-article prototypes to millions of parts. Flexible loading matches the part and the volume.
- Alloy rangeAISI 1045 through 1095, plus 4130, 4140, 5060, 5160, 6150, 8660, and E52100.
- Part thickness0.005″ to 0.150″.
- Part lengthUp to 8″.
- Loading optionsHand-placed, hand-sprinkled, bulk-loaded with computerized autoloaders, or sample-bagged for prototypes.
- VolumeFrom first article to millions of parts.
Have a part conventional heat treating can’t handle?
Send us your part and specifications — our technical team will tell you how austempering performs for your application.