HOME FAQs BOOKS JOBS: Help Wanted Suggestions you are here: Hotline/Forum => Letter 54127
Post-fab heat treatment of aluminum
January 15, 2010
Can 2024-0 material be fabricated into parts and then heat treated to the T-3 condition? I have always been told no. That it has to go to the T-42 condition. I started a new job and the drawing here are using 2024-0 sheet and heat treating fabricated parts to T-3. Is this now an acceptable process? Other than cold rolling, straighten and flattening of the material to the T-3 condition. I was told there is an emulsion process to temper the material to T-3.
Danny HowardProduct Designer - Andalusia, Alabama
^- Privately contact this inquirer -^
First of two simultaneous responses -- January 21, 2010
Dan,
You want to solution heat treat to the T4 condition by a standard procedure. In order to get to a higher condition (say T6) you will need to introduce the part to a precipitation heat treatment process
(artificial aging) AFTER the solution heat treat procedure.
You are correct T3 is mill foundry level condition not obtainable in aftermarket process.
Talk with you soon buddy,
Bill
aeronautical - Helena, AL, USA
Second of two simultaneous responses -- January 22, 2010
I'd be on your side of the argument of this.
T3 temper is designated as cold worked. However I have found it common for engineers to refer to a set of properties as being T3 and therefore if the T42 met the criteria for T3 they will say it is T3.
www.matweb.com/reference/aluminumtemper.aspx
Aerospace - South Wales, UK