Selective Hardening

Bluewater’s Selective Hardening method is used to achieve ductility and improved wear resistance in complex steel parts. This is achieved by applying a heat source over a localized surface section of a medium to high-carbon steel part in order to specifically alter only a portion of the part, while controlling the depth of heat absorption through various methods. These methods typically require close monitoring of the time and frequency the steel is exposed and the temperature of the heat source being utilized.The heat source technique that is most often utilized at Bluewater is induction hardening. Sometimes the selective heating may require protection for the portions of steel that are not being heated with an insulating material or compound. The process may also require additional quenching and tempering to achieve the hardness desired and a reduction of brittleness.

Our capabilities include:

Induction Hardening

Induction Hardening is a form of heat treatment Bluewater utilizes to selectively harden a metal part or component via means of a solid state RF power supply that sends currents through an inductor coil which then transmits electromagnetic waves that heat the metal parts or components. Read more

Selective Annealing

Bluewater has the ability to selectively anneal metals by selectively heating small areas on components to elevated annealing temperatures followed by slow cooling. Read more

Selective Tempering

Bluewater uses selective tempering as a reheating treatment technique to temper select parts of metals and metal alloys in order to achieve different degrees of hardness within the same component for a subsequent improvement in robustness and quality. Read more

Magnetic Particle Inspection for crack detection

Bluewater Thermal Solutions employs a non-destructive testing procedure called magnetic particle inspection on ferromagnetic materials in order to detect defects and surface or subsurface anomalies by magnetizing the metal part and then applying a wet or dry suspension of ferrous iron particles to the component so that, much like a magnet, the iron particles will be attracted to any problem areas. Read more

Metallurgical laboratory inspection

Bluewater Thermal Solutions help our clients improve their processes, procedures and overall end products through the use of a variety of innovative metallurgical laboratory testing services which can accurately evaluate a substance’s compliance with the most stringent of product specifications. Read more

Frequencies

Low frequency for deep case depths or through hardening

Bluewater Thermal Solutions low frequency hardening technique is a special induction hardening application our technicians can use to apply and obtain substantially different hardness patterns in most steel parts and components. Read more

High frequency for shallow to medium case depths

Bluewater Thermal Solutions high frequency hardening technique is a special induction hardening application our technicians can use to apply and obtain substantially different hardness patterns in most steel parts and components. Read more