Solubilization is a process used to treat austenitic stainless-steel elements with a temperature higher than 1000°C with the purpose of removing the structural changes due to previous production processes (for example deep drawing process of sheet metal). It is very important that these elements are kept at solubilization temperature only as long as necessary to solubilize carbides and eliminate tensions.
Plants for steel treatment
Continuous or “batch” solubilization furnaces are commonly used to treat steel products and components, such as fittings, trays, sinks, tubes, turbine blades and so on.
Continuous solubilization furnaces
We have industrial continuous solubilization furnaces with conveyor belts made of high thermal resistance alloys, or metal and ceramic rollers. The latter typology of solubilization furnace can reach higher temperatures and represents an excellent solution in terms of efficiency and energy saving.
Solubilization furnaces for steel tubes
Stainless-steel tubes also undergo the “polished” annealing process inside continuous furnaces with metal rollers, ceramic rollers, conveyor belt, in hydrogen atmosphere. Some tubes made of particular materials or with high thickness require, immediately after heating, a rapid cooling through forced circulation of protective gas with the simultaneous cooling of this gas, with the purpose of limiting the dimension of the grain or preventing the precipitation of carbides. Inside these plants, the complete evacuation of air from the tubes is essential and this process takes place through the washing with nitrogen (argon) or the creation of vacuum inside the production line, without interrupting the continuity of production.
“Batch” solubilization furnaces
In addition to the previous typologies of solubilization furnaces, we produce furnaces without transport systems, especially designed for production needs that involve a discontinuous treatment.
Contact us to receive further information about our plants and a free estimate of the industrial solubilization furnace that best meets your production needs!
Annealing process of sinks
Elements with big dimensions and small thickness such as sinks, trays, pump casings etc. can be solubilized in two ways: “brilliant” or “black”. In the first case, they are treated inside continuous humpback furnaces.
This type of plant limits the consumption of protective atmosphere and protects furnaces from undesirable entrance of air. The most commonly used protective atmospheres are hydrogen, combination of nitrogen and hydrogen or dissociated ammonia that allow a “polished” annealing process without the need for a subsequent pickling treatment.
For the same elements the annealing process in “black” is also performed. These elements are treated with air and moved inside continuous furnaces using ceramic rollers, without protective atmosphere and with water cooling process. This treatment avoids the consumption of protective gas, but requires the subsequent pickling process.
Solubilization annealing process of stainless steel
Solubilization annealing is a process used to treat austenitic stainless-steel elements with a temperature higher than 1000°C with the purpose of removing the structural changes due to previous production processes (for example deep drawing process of sheet metal). It is very important that these elements are kept at solubilization temperature only as long as necessary to solubilize carbides and eliminate tensions.