Annealing is a heat treatment process that involves heating metal to a specific temperature, maintaining it, and then cooling it at a controlled rate. The goal is to reduce hardness, improve ductility, relieve internal stress, and refine the microstructure. At SAKYSTEEL, we apply controlled annealing to a wide range of materials including stainless steel bars, alloy steel bars, and nickel-based alloys.
• Enhances machinability and formability
• Improves dimensional stability
• Relieves stress after cold working or forging
• Refines grain structure and removes defects
The annealing process typically includes three stages:
1.Heating: The metal is heated to a specific temperature (usually above recrystallization temperature).
2.Holding: The material is held at this temperature long enough for transformation.
3.Cooling: Slow and controlled cooling in a furnace, air, or inert atmosphere depending on material type.
| Annealing Type | Description | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Full Annealing | Heated above critical temperature and slow-cooled | Carbon steel & alloy steel components |
| Process Annealing | Sub-critical heating to reduce work-hardening | Low carbon steel after cold-working |
| Stress-Relief Annealing | Used to remove internal stress without major structural change | Forged or welded components |
| Spheroidizing | Transforms carbides into rounded shape for better machinability | Tool steels (e.g. H13 Die Steel) |
| Bright Annealing | Annealing in vacuum or inert gas to prevent oxidation | Stainless steel pipes & tubing |
Though related, these processes are different:
Annealing: Softens material and enhances ductility
Normalizing: Similar heating but air-cooled; improves strength
Tempering: Performed after hardening to adjust toughness
In-house precision annealing furnaces
ISO 9001 quality control for consistency
Heat treatment certificates with every batch
Customized dimensions and cutting available
Annealing is essential for metal performance, especially in applications requiring flexibility, machinability, and stress-resistance. Whether you’re working with stainless steel, alloy steel, or nickel-based superalloys, SAKYSTEEL offers expertly annealed materials tailored to your requirements. Contact us today for a quote or technical support.