Aluminum Heat Treatment

Reviving a dormant aluminum heat treatment project, originally set up for motorcycle alloy wheels over a decade ago, I led a team of eight to enhance the mechanical properties of Al295-grade aluminum molds used in a styrofoam packaging manufacturing facility. These bulky molds were prone to failure under their own weight, compromising production efficiency. By implementing T4 and T6 heat treatments, we aimed to improve the strength, ductility, and overall durability of the molds. T4 treatment involved solution heat treatment followed by natural aging, while T6 included artificial aging to maximize strength, tailoring the alloy’s microstructure for enhanced performance.

The project’s success lay in transforming the molds’ mechanical properties, making them more robust and resistant to failure while repurposing an idle heat treatment setup. The revitalized process not only addressed the molds’ weight-related issues but also demonstrated the value of recycling existing infrastructure for modern applications. Leading the team, we optimized the heat treatment parameters to achieve consistent results, ensuring the molds met the demanding requirements of the packaging industry. This project highlights the potential of targeted heat treatments to breathe new life into both materials and forgotten facilities.