Heat Treatment Services at CBE+

At CBE+, we offer a range of in-house heat treatment processes to enhance the properties and performance of metal components, particularly those treated with Electroless Nickel Plating (ENP). Our skilled team has extensive experience in applying tailored heat treatments to meet the specific requirements of customers across a wide range of industries.

Below is an overview of the different heat treatment services we provide:

Stress Relieving / Normalising

What is it?

Stress relieving involves heating a metal or alloy to a controlled temperature below its lower transformation point, followed by cooling in air.

Why is it used?

This process is used to relieve internal stresses caused by earlier manufacturing steps such as forming, machining or welding. Left untreated, these stresses can lead to distortion or cracking during service.

Typical applications:

• Machined components
• Welded structures
• Precision parts prior to plating or further processing

Hydrogen De-embrittlement

What is it?

During plating or chemical treatments involving acid, hydrogen atoms can become embedded in the metal. This can result in a condition known as hydrogen embrittlement, which may reduce the material’s ductility and lead to cracking under stress.

How we address it:

We use a specific heat treatment process to remove hydrogen from the component by allowing it to diffuse out of the material. This treatment restores the part’s mechanical integrity and is often critical in high-stress or safety-critical applications.

Common sectors:

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Defence

Heat Treatment to Increase Hardness of Electroless Nickel Plating (ENP)

As-plated ENP hardness: Approximately 500 HV
Post-treatment hardness: Up to 1000 HV

Purpose:

Heat treatment can significantly increase the hardness of ENP, enhancing wear resistance and extending component lifespan in harsh environments. This level of hardness can rival that of hard chrome plating.

Additional insight:

Certain hardening treatments can introduce micro-cracking, which, while sometimes viewed as a negative, can be advantageous in specific applications. For example, in hydraulic rams, micro-cracks can help retain lubricants, aiding performance and longevity.

It is important to note that although hardness improves wear resistance, it does not enhance corrosion resistance. These are separate performance characteristics.

Diffusion Heat Treatment (Diffused Nickel)

What is it?

Diffusion heat treatment is used to fuse a plated coating more deeply into the substrate. This process is commonly applied to Electroless Nickel to improve corrosion resistance.

Key benefits of diffused nickel plating:

• Superior corrosion resistance
• A cost-effective alternative to stainless steel
• Suitable for harsh environments, including marine and offshore applications

Oven Capacity at CBE+

Our in-house heat treatment ovens enable us to process a wide range of component sizes:

• 4.0 m (depth) × 2.0 m (width) × 1.55 m (height)
• 1.5 m (depth) × 1.45 m (width) × 1.7 m (height)
• 0.55 m (depth) × 0.66 m (width) × 0.55 m (height)
• 0.5 m (depth) × 0.5 m (width) × 0.55 m (height)

This capacity allows us to treat anything from small precision components to larger parts.

Why Choose CBE+?

• Fully integrated service: machining, plating and heat treatment in one facility
• Proven expertise across a range of demanding industries
• Quality-focused processes for consistency and reliability
• Experienced team dedicated to customer satisfaction

Need advice on the right heat treatment for your project?

Our team is here to help. Contact us to discuss your requirements and find the best solution for your application.