Aluminum Alloy Forging Heating Process

Aluminum alloys can be heated before forging with a variety of heating equipment, such as resistance furnaces, gas furnaces, oil furnaces, induction heating devices, fluidized particle furnaces, etc. In China, resistance furnaces are generally used for heating. In this case, it is best to install a forced furnace gas circulation device in the furnace to promote uniform furnace temperature. When using a gas furnace or an oil furnace, low-sulfur fuel must be used, and the flame in the furnace is not allowed to directly spray the billet surface.

The heat treatment machine of Jiahangaero

The heat treatment machine of Jiahangaero

Europe and the United States believe that muffle furnaces are the best for aluminum alloy forging heating, and gas-fired semi-closed furnaces have been widely used. When the aluminum alloy forging process is highly automated, the commonly used heating methods include induction heating, resistance heating and fluid particle heating.

The forging temperature range of aluminum alloy is narrow, and it is easy to overheat and overburn, so it is necessary to measure and control the temperature accurately, and the furnace temperature deviation is preferably within the range of ±5°C.

Jiahangaero said that aluminum alloy has good thermal conductivity, so blanks of any thickness can be directly heated in a high-temperature furnace without preheating, but the heating time is longer than that of ordinary carbon steel, because the internal strengthening phase must be fully ensured when aluminum alloy is heated Dissolution in order to make the alloy structure uniform and improve the plasticity.

The heating time of the aluminum alloy billet is calculated as 1.5-2 minutes per millimeter of diameter or thickness. For billets with high content of alloying elements, the heating time is longer, for example, the heating time of LC4 should be longer than that of LD2 alloy. Under normal circumstances, the heating time of aluminum alloy is 1-2 hours. If there is an unavoidable extension, the heating time can exceed 4-6 hours. If it is longer, it is recommended to take the metal out of the furnace to prevent overheating and absorption. hydrogen.