What Is A Heat Treat Job?
What is Heat Treating?
Heat treating is a group of industrial processes used to alter the physical and sometimes chemical properties of a material. The most common application is metallurgical heat treatments for metals such as steel, aluminum, copper, and more. Heat treating involves controlled heating and cooling cycles to achieve desired properties such as hardness, toughness, ductility, strength, etc.
The main purposes of heat treating metals are:
- Soften the metal (make it more malleable)
- Harden the metal (make it more resistant to deformation)
- Improve machinability
- Enhance mechanical properties like strength, ductility, toughness
- Relieve internal stresses
Common types of heat treating processes include:
- Annealing – Heating to and cooling from a suitable temperature to soften metal.
- Normalizing – Heating above critical temperature and cooling in air to relieve stress.
- Hardening – Rapidly heating and quenching to harden metal.
- Tempering – Reheating hardened metal to achieve toughness.
Why Heat Treat Metals?
Heat treating metals is done to alter the physical and sometimes chemical properties of the material. The most common reasons to heat treat metals are to improve strength, hardness, ductility, machinability, etc. Heat treating can also be used to prepare metals for further processing such as machining or forming.
Heat treating improves strength and hardness by altering the microstructure of the metal. Heating and cooling under controlled conditions causes changes to the crystalline structure of the alloys in the metal, allowing manipulation of qualities like ductility and yield strength (https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=2198). Proper heat treatment can optimize a metal’s mechanical properties to precisely fit the requirements of a particular application.
Heat treating before machining or forming operations helps prepare the metal for further processing. Annealing makes the metal softer and more ductile, which improves machinability and allows the metal to be shaped or bent without breaking. Normalizing relieves internal stresses from prior machining, making the metal more stable during subsequent operations (https://metalcutting.com/knowledge-center/heat-treating-metal/). The right heat treatment makes metals easier to work with for downstream processes.
Common Heat Treating Processes
Heat treating processes are used to alter the physical, mechanical or electrical properties of metals and alloys (Sm-Furnaces source). Common heat treating methods include annealing, hardening, and tempering. Each process serves a different purpose in altering the properties of the material.
Annealing involves heating a metal to a specific temperature and then cooling it at a controlled rate. It is done to soften the metal, increase ductility and refine the structure (Sm-Furnaces source). Annealing relieves internal stresses and reduces hardness and brittleness.
Hardening increases the hardness and strength of a metal by heating it above a critical temperature and then quickly cooling it. This produces a harder, stronger but more brittle metal structure (Metal Working Tip Sheet). Quenching is a form of hardening that uses a rapid cooling medium like water or oil.
Tempering reduces brittleness and restores ductility after the hardening process. It involves reheating the metal to a specific temperature below the critical point and then cooling. Tempering helps achieve the desired balance of hardness and toughness (Sm-Furnaces source).
Heat Treating Equipment
Heat treating equipment is used to alter the physical and sometimes chemical properties of metals and alloys through precise control of temperature, atmosphere, and cooling rates.[1] Common types of heat treating equipment include furnaces, salt baths, and quenching systems.
Furnaces are enclosed chambers that allow precise control of temperature for heating metals. Common types of furnaces used in heat treating include batch furnaces, continuous furnaces, and vacuum furnaces. Batch furnaces are used for individual loads or batches of workpieces. Continuous furnaces allow for continuous processing of strips or wires of metal. Vacuum furnaces provide an inert atmosphere by creating a vacuum.[2]
Salt baths use molten salts like cyanide salts or nitrate salts to rapidly heat metals for heat treating processes. Salt baths allow rapid heating and cooling and enable tight control over the heat treating process. Quenching systems rapidly cool heated metals using media like water, oil, or air to harden metals.[1]
Proper heat treating equipment allows control over all aspects of the heat treating process including temperature, atmosphere, and cooling rate. This enables the required material properties to be achieved through heat treating.
[1] https://www.inductoheat.com/
[2] https://heattreatquip.com/
Heat Treating Jobs and Responsibilities
Heat treat operators have a number of important responsibilities. Their main duty is to operate furnaces and equipment to heat treat metals and alloys. This involves:
- Loading parts into furnaces and heating them according to specifications
- Monitoring and adjusting furnace temperatures and cycle times to achieve desired properties
- Operating quench tanks, cooling equipment, and washers to rapidly cool parts after heating
- Using hoists and cranes to load and unload heavy parts
- Performing quality control and tests on sample parts to ensure standards are met
- Maintaining equipment, performing basic repairs, and reporting issues
- Recording process data related to each batch and keeping detailed logs
- Wearing protective gear and following safety procedures
Attention to detail is crucial for heat treat operators. They must be able to accurately follow procedures and specifications. Monitoring furnace conditions and making timely adjustments is also an essential part of the job. Quality control and testing ensures treated parts have achieved the desired material properties.
Heat Treating Engineer Role
Heat treating engineers are responsible for designing and optimizing heat treating processes, procedures, and equipment selection. Some of their key responsibilities include:
Designing heat treating processes and procedures – Heat treating engineers analyze product requirements and specifications to develop appropriate heating and cooling processes that will achieve the desired material properties. This involves selecting appropriate temperatures, heating and cooling rates, and process durations. They design robust processes that meet quality requirements.
Selecting equipment – Heat treating engineers determine what types of furnaces, quench systems, and other equipment are needed to execute the designed processes. This may include batch or continuous furnaces, atmosphere control systems, quench tanks, washer systems, and more. They specify equipment capabilities to meet throughput, temperature uniformity, cooling rate, and other requirements.
Troubleshooting – When issues arise during heat treating operations, engineers will investigate the root causes and implement corrective actions. This may involve adjusting process parameters, repairing or replacing malfunctioning components, or redesigning processes. Heat treating engineers rely on data analysis and metrology to identify and resolve problems.
Overall, heat treating engineers play a critical role in developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting thermal processes that impart desired properties and performance characteristics to industrial metals and alloys.
Source: Senior Heat Treat Engineer – Detroit, United States
Education and Training
There are a few common educational paths to becoming a heat treater:
- On-the-job training – Many heat treaters start by learning through an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. Hands-on experience working under the guidance of experienced heat treaters allows trainees to gain practical skills.
- Associate’s degree – Some heat treaters earn an associate’s degree in materials science technology or a related field. This provides fundamental knowledge in metallurgy, materials properties, and heat treating processes.
- Bachelor’s degree – A bachelor’s degree in materials science, metallurgical engineering, or mechanical engineering is recommended for heat treaters looking to advance to engineering and leadership roles. This provides in-depth understanding of materials and how to modify their properties.
Combining formal education with on-the-job training gives heat treaters the optimal blend of theoretical and practical knowledge. Continuing education like conferences and seminars help experienced heat treaters stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and innovations.
Heat Treating Industry
Heat treating is used across numerous major industrial sectors including automotive, aerospace, and metalworking. According to American Hydroformers, key industries that utilize heat treating processes include:
- Aerospace – Heat treating is critical for aerospace components to achieve the necessary strength and durability under extreme conditions.
- Automotive – Auto manufacturers use heat treating for engine components, transmission gears, axles, and other critical parts.
- Metalworking – Metal fabricators, machine shops, and other metalworking firms heat treat parts and tools to improve hardness, wear resistance, and durability.
Heat treating is essential for products that must withstand high stress, fatigue, friction, and other demands. Industries like aerospace and automotive rely on heat treated components to achieve lightweight, high-strength designs (American Hydroformers). Proper heat treating ensures safety and reliability across many industrial and commercial applications.
Career Advancement
There are several potential career advancement opportunities for heat treat technicians and engineers. With experience, some common positions to advance to include:
- Lead Heat Treater – Lead heat treaters oversee the daily operations of the heat treating department. They train new technicians, assign work, ensure quality control protocols are followed, and interface with management. Typically requires 3-5 years of heat treating experience.
- Supervisor – Heat treat supervisors manage groups of technicians and oversee heat treating operations for a specific production line or facility area. Supervisors coordinate projects, handle scheduling, track metrics, and report to management. 5+ years of experience is often required.
- Metallurgist – Metallurgists are materials scientists who specialize in metals. They determine optimal heat treating methods, analyze metal microstructures, perform failure analysis, and provide recommendations to improve processes. Becoming a metallurgist requires a bachelor’s degree in metallurgy, materials science, or engineering.
With additional certifications, training, and cross-functional experience, heat treat professionals can advance into management, sales, quality control, and instructor roles within the heat treating industry.
Source: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/career/Heat-Treatment/What-Is-How-to-Become
Job Outlook and Salary
The job outlook for heat treating equipment operators is strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations. This increase is driven by demand from manufacturing industries like automotive and aerospace that rely on heat treated components.
The average hourly wage for heat treating equipment operators was $15.02 as of May 2022 according to the BLS (source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes514191.htm). The average annual salary for these professionals is between $31,250 and $36,000. According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly pay for a heat treatment technician is $22.98 as of February 2024 (source: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/HEAT-Treatment-Technician-Salary). Salaries can range higher depending on experience level and geographic location.
