Aluminum alloys can be heated before forging using various heating devices, such as resistance furnaces, gas furnaces, oil fired furnaces, induction heating installations, fluidized particle furnaces, etc. In China, resistance furnaces are commonly used for heating. In this situation, it is recommended to install forced furnace gas circulation inside the furnace to promote even furnace temperature. When using gas or oil stoves, low sulfur fuel must be used, and the flames inside the stove are not allowed to directly radiate from the surface of the billet. Abroad, it is believed that the muffle furnace is the best heating method for aluminum alloy forging, and gas semi sealed furnaces have been widely used. When the aluminum alloy forging process is highly automated, commonly used heating methods include induction heating, resistance heating, and fluidized particle heating.

The temperature range of aluminum alloy forging is narrow and prone to overheating and overburning, so accurate temperature measurement and control are necessary. The furnace temperature deviation should be within ± 5 ℃.

Aluminum alloy has good thermal conductivity, so any thickness of blank can be directly heated in a high-temperature furnace without preheating. However, the heating time is longer than that of ordinary carbon steel. This is because during heating of aluminum alloy, it is necessary to ensure sufficient dissolution of internal strengthening phases in order to make the alloy structure even and improve plasticity. The heating time of aluminum alloy billets is calculated as 1.5-2 minutes per millimeter of diameter or thickness. The dissolution process of strengthening phases is related to the size, shape, dispersion characteristics, and self properties of strengthening phases. The coarser the structure, the slower the dissolution. Therefore, the upper limit of heating time should be taken for ingots, large forgings, and coarse bars (with a diameter of over 100mm). The heating time of billets with high alloy element content is longer, such as LC4 which should have a longer heating time than LD2 alloy. Under normal circumstances, a heating time of 1-2 hours is sufficient for aluminum alloys. If there is an unavoidable extension, the heating time can exceed 4-6 hours. If it is longer, it is recommended to remove the metal from the furnace to prevent overheating and hydrogen absorption

Kunshan Wanda Metal Products Co., Ltd. is a professional Kunshan stamping and forging manufacturer engaged in the research and development of aluminum alloys, production and sales of forged and stamped parts. The company has advanced production equipment, strong technology, and excellent product quality. Its main products include bicycle aluminum alloy forging and automotive stamping parts. Welcome to consult!