Application of vacuum heat treatment technology in high-end manufacturing

In modern industry, vacuum heat treatment is a key step in improving the performance of metal materials, particularly in high-end sectors such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing, where the requirements for process precision, reliability, and consistency are extremely stringent. Vacuum heat treatment technology, with its advantages of being oxidation-free, decarburization-free, minimally deformed, and environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, has become an indispensable key technology in these fields.

Ⅰ. Aerospace

Take engine blades, for example. These blades operate under extremely high temperatures, high pressures, and high speeds, and are typically made of nickel- or cobalt-based superalloys. Heat treatment of these materials must be performed under high vacuum and precise temperature control to ensure high-temperature strength, creep resistance, and fatigue life. A typical process, such as the “solution + aging” treatment of single-crystal blades, requires temperatures up to 1400°C and a vacuum of 10⁻⁴ Pa. The furnace temperature uniformity must not exceed ±5°C, and the pressure rise rate must be less than 0.27 Pa/h (for metal screen furnaces). Furthermore, high-temperature brazing and coating processes during blade repair also require precise partial pressure control (argon or hydrogen) to meet aviation standards.

II. Automotive Manufacturing
Take gear parts as an example. Automotive transmission gears require high surface hardness and wear resistance, while maintaining toughness in the core. Traditional atmosphere carburizing is prone to internal oxidation and deformation. Vacuum low-pressure carburizing (LPC) combined with high-pressure gas quenching effectively addresses this challenge. This process performs carburizing in a high vacuum environment, preventing internal oxidation and ensuring a uniform carburized layer. Subsequent high-pressure gas quenching at up to 15 bar significantly minimizes gear deformation, reduces subsequent processing, and improves production efficiency and product quality. Furthermore, the vacuum environment eliminates exhaust emissions, further aligning with green manufacturing trends.

III. Core Technical Advantages of Vacuum Heat Treatment
Whether in aerospace or automotive manufacturing, vacuum heat treatment offers the following major advantages:
No oxidation and no pollution: The high vacuum environment eliminates oxidation and decarburization on the workpiece surface;
High process precision: Temperature uniformity can be controlled within ±5°C, meeting the most stringent aerospace and automotive standards;
Flexible and controllable cooling: The gas quenching pressure can be adjusted from 2 bar to 20 bar to accommodate different materials and cross-sectional dimensions;
Process diversity: The same equipment can support a variety of processes, including vacuum quenching, vacuum carburizing, vacuum annealing, vacuum tempering, vacuum brazing, and vacuum sintering;
Environmental protection and energy saving: No combustion exhaust and high heat utilization efficiency meet the requirements of sustainable development.
IV. Key Equipment Support for Technical Implementation
Advanced vacuum heat treatment equipment is essential for achieving these high-end processes. Configurations such as the SIMUWU high-pressure gas quenching system can simultaneously meet the ultra-high temperature and high vacuum requirements of aerospace blades, as well as the low-pressure carburizing and high-pressure quenching requirements of automotive gears. SIMUWU vacuum furnaces offer a high vacuum of 10⁻⁴Pa, a furnace temperature uniformity of ±5°C, an adjustable cooling pressure of 6–15 bar, and support for hydrogen/argon partial pressure control. They are widely used in high-end manufacturing worldwide and serve as a key technical support for industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical devices. Vacuum heat treatment technology has become a core process in high-end manufacturing. Its successful application in the aerospace and automotive sectors reflects modern industry’s shared pursuit of precision, reliability, and environmental friendliness.