THE HEATING OF METALS IN AN ELECTROLYTE.
Abstract
Steel can be heat treated electrically while submerged in an electrolyte. The advantages of this process are: (1) rapid heating, (2) prevention of scale by the automatic generation of hydrogen which surrounds the work, (3) automatic quench in the same tank when the current is interrupted. On small samples, heating rates as high as 350F per second and as low as 6.6F per second have been achieved with the liklihood of being able to increase substantially the rate with higher voltage. In a 10% solution of sodium carbonate, which is inexpensive and can be used indefinitely, current densities of 21 to 27 amperes per square inch at 200 volts were recorded during heating. Disadvantages of the process include: (1) a large D. C. generator is required for moderately large pieces, (2) the process is less than 12% efficient, (3) protected thermocouples must be attached to the work, (4) although not required for small samples, an exhaust system would be required to remove the liberated hydrogen when heating large pieces, (5) temperatures induced are not uniform throughout the specimen. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0623019
Entities
People
- Herbert Frankel