Glycol Quenching Heat Treating

February 1, 2015

Jenny Hessler

Al-Fe Heat Treating adds glycol quenching to its aluminum heat treat services for the military, automotive, and aerospace industries. Glycol quenching improves over traditional heat treating by allowing for precise control over quenching speed, particularly when used with aluminum. The method is suitable for parts with thin sections or wall thicknesses, as well as for sheet metal and stamped parts that may be distorted using standard water or air treatments. While economical, water quenching can cause metals to lose strength, hardness, and flexibility. Glycol’s inverse solubility eliminates vapor pockets and provides more even heat extraction, reducing warpage in finished parts. Precise cooling rates can be achieved by changing the polymer concentration, and the glycol provides consistent quenching results, reducing downtime and scrap.