Heat Treatments

Heat treatments on metals and alloys

How it works

Heat treatments consist of heating and cooling cycles of metals or alloys, carried out under controlled conditions and temperatures to give the treated component specific mechanical and technological properties.

Rossi Tre Srl performs heat treatments and surface treatments on steel, iron, cast iron, titanium and special alloys, with the aim of improving material performance, strength and reliability according to the final application.

We carry out various types of heat treatments, including quenching and tempering, annealing and isothermal annealing, solution treatment, normalizing and stress relieving, all customized according to customer requirements.

All our systems are automated and comply with current safety regulations, ensuring precision, repeatability and full process control.

Rossi Tre pays particular attention to preventive and protective measures, continuously investing in staff training to ensure a safe and controlled working environment.

Customized and Witnessed Heat Treatments

We offer specific, customized and tailor-made heat treatments, developed according to the material characteristics and required performance.

We also carry out witnessed heat treatments in the presence of the customer and/or external inspectors, ensuring transparency and full control throughout all process phases.

When are heat treatments necessary?

Heat treatments become essential when materials must meet high performance requirements, such as wear resistance, dimensional stability or preparation for subsequent machining operations.

They are particularly used in manufacturing processes where metals undergo hot or cold working, which can generate internal stresses or alter the original properties of the material. Through a proper heat treatment process, it is possible to restore optimal material conditions, improving reliability, durability and long-term performance.

Typology

Quenching and Tempering Heat Treatment

This heat treatment, consisting of quenching followed by tempering, makes the material harder and tougher, enhancing its mechanical properties. Quenching and tempering allows the full exploitation of each steel’s characteristics for its intended application.

Rossi Tre has different types of systems that allow cooling in various ways using different quenching media such as water and water quench, depending on material characteristics and required performance.

Thanks to our automated system, we are able to treat special steels and alloys, achieving maximum performance. The process ensures proper cooling with a very short transfer time (<24s).

The system also provides precise temperature control and quenching medium recirculation, ensuring consistent and reliable results. Process automation guarantees full repeatability and traceability over time, which are essential for high-precision industrial applications.

Annealing Heat Treatment

The annealing heat treatment is used to soften steel, making it easier to machine. This process allows the elimination of residual stresses generated during hot or cold working and neutralizes the effects of previous heat treatments, restoring the material to a more stable and uniform condition.

Annealing is particularly useful to improve machinability and prepare components for further processing or treatments.

Rossi Tre offers several types of annealing for steels and alloys, including:

Process annealing
Isothermal annealing
Subcritical annealing
Full annealing

Isothermal annealing

The purpose of this heat treatment is tospeed up the processing of metal which consists in heating the piece at temperatures above 900 °C, followed by cooling at a relatively high speed.

Solution Heat Treatment

This heat treatment is used for stainless steels and non-ferrous alloys such as titanium, nickel and aluminum, improving material properties according to the final application.

Improved mechanical strength, both at room and elevated temperatures
Increased corrosion resistance

In particular, solution heat treatment of austenitic steels enhances oxidation resistance and optimizes the material structure.

This process is also used to:

completely eliminate work hardening caused by cold plastic deformation
relieve residual stresses within the material

Rossi Tre can perform solution treatments up to 1200°C, ensuring proper cooling thanks to a very short transfer time (<24s).

Stress Relieving Heat Treatment

The purpose of this heat treatment is to reduce internal stresses in the material without significantly altering hardness or mechanical properties.

Stress relieving is generally performed on various materials, including quenched and tempered steels, stainless steels and nickel alloys, and is particularly suitable after hot or cold working processes that generate residual stresses.

Rossi Tre has a dedicated system for this treatment, with a maximum capacity of up to 100 tons, ensuring precision and uniformity even for large components.

Normalizing Heat Treatment

The normalizing process refines the grain structure of steel, improving uniformity and achieving a proper microstructural balance.

This heat treatment is generally carried out on components coming from hot working processes, with the aim of preparing the material for subsequent machining and improving overall mechanical properties.

OUR FACILITIES

Furnace – Site 1100 ton.12.650 x 4.880 x h 3.740

Furnace15 ton.2500 x 4320 x h 1900

Furnace15 ton.2500 x 4280 x h 1900

Furnace500 kg500 x 800 x h 450

Furnace30 ton.2500 x 4320 x h 1900

Furnace30 ton.2550 x 5130 x h 1900

2 Furnaces15 ton.3000 x 3000 x h 2000

Furnace30 ton.2500 x 4820 x h 1900

Furnace50 ton.7600 x 2500 x h 1900

Applications of Heat Treatments

Heat treatments are used across numerous industrial sectors where material performance is critical. By modifying the mechanical and structural properties of metals, these processes are essential in producing high-reliability components.

In particular, heat treatments are used to improve wear resistance, increase hardness, reduce internal stresses and ensure greater dimensional stability.

Industrial mechanics: components subject to heavy stress such as shafts, gears and mechanical parts
Automotive: structural components and mechanical parts exposed to cyclic stress and wear
Aerospace: high-performance materials requiring precision and reliability under extreme conditions
Oil & Gas: components exposed to high pressure, temperature and corrosive environments
Energy and plant engineering: turbines, valves and critical components
Tools and molds: treatments to increase hardness and wear resistance

In all these sectors, heat treatment of metals is essential to ensure quality, safety and performance, contributing significantly to product reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions about Heat Treatments

What is the purpose of heat treatments?

The purpose of heat treatments is to modify the mechanical and structural properties of metals by acting on their microstructure through controlled heating and cooling cycles, improving hardness, strength, toughness, machinability and dimensional stability.

Which materials can be heat treated?

Heat treatments can be applied to a wide range of materials including carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, cast iron, titanium and non-ferrous alloys, each requiring specific parameters.

What is the difference between quenching and tempering and annealing?

Quenching and tempering increases hardness and strength, while annealing reduces hardness, improves machinability and relieves internal stresses.

Do heat treatments change the shape of the part?

No, heat treatments act on the internal structure of the material without changing its geometry, although minimal deformations may occur and are managed through process control.