[TheForge] spring temper for brass question

Thu Mar 11 08:08:00 2004

Charles your are right that "some" aluminum alloys can be solution heat
treated -- but not all.  Generally it is limited to the 2000's,6000's and
7000's alloys.  (As luck would have it those 2xxx and 7xxx aerospace alloys
such as 2024 and 7075 can't be welded with common means.  6061 can be
welded.)  In general the 1000's, 3000's and 5000's alloys can't be heat
treated, only work hardened. (But can be welded with TIG or MIG.)

Solution heat treat involves taking the alloy to a temperature where the
alloying element goes into "solution" and then is held there by quenching.
Reheating to a lower temperature artificial ages the material giving it a
higher strength.  Over temperature during the solution heat treating causes
major problems.  Temperature control and quenching control of solution heat
treating for aerospace alloys is a very critical process -- which makes
these alloys much more expensive that non-aerospace rated material.

Dave Smucker

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 9:36 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] spring temper for brass question

> Hardening and tempering apply to many metals.  For example, aluminum can
> be work hardened, but can also be hardened by heating at an elevated
> temperature, natural aging and artificial aging.   One of the most
> common grades for structural work( and what I am building a plane our
> of) is 6061 T6, with the T6 indicating that it is hardened by soaking at
> at 900 degrees and then artificially aged by soaking at 350 degrees as I
> recall.  Brass is work hardened, but can be tempered by precise heat
> treatment as well is my understanding.    I would suggest that the
> original poster look to one of the clock making lists to get his
> question answered.  There are many brass springs found in clocks and
> tempering them is a normal process.
>
> Charles
>
>
> magichammer wrote:
>
> >...not...
> >
> >----- Original Message ----- 
> >From: "Bruce Freeman" <[email protected]>
> >To: <[email protected]>
> >Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 2:08 PM
> >Subject: Re: [TheForge] spring temper for brass question
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>Is the originator of this inquiry on this list or not?
> >>
> >>I would think that a brass spring would have to get its resiliency from
> >>work-hardening.   "Tempering" per se, applies only to carbon steel.
> >>
> >>Bruce
> >>NJ
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>>>[email protected] 3/10/2004 10:15:18 AM >>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>(from another list)
> >>Hi,
> >>I want to know how to spring temper light gauge brass strips.
> >>I know it is yellow brass (260), but I don't know if the spring temper
> >>
> >>comes from heat trating or if it is a special alloy.
> >>Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> >>Thanks!
> >>Kevin
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