A method for heat treating cast aluminum alloy components that includes obtaining a casting formed from an aluminum alloy having a silicon constituent and at least one metal alloying constituent, and heating the casting to a first casting temperature that is below but within 10 C. of a predetermined silicon solution temperature at which the silicon constituent rapidly enters into solid solution. The method also includes increasing the rate of heat input into the casting to raise the temperature of the casting to a second casting temperature that is above but within 10 C. of a predetermined alloying metal solution temperature at which the at least one metal alloying constituent rapidly enters into solid solution, maintaining the casting at the second casting temperature for a period of time that is less than about 20 minutes, and then quenching the casting to a temperature less than or about 250 C.

A method of manufacturing a cam piece for a continuously variable valve duration and a cam piece manufactured therefrom, and more particularly, to material and heat treatment conditions of a cam piece, may include manufacturing a cam piece by casting; heating the cam piece; maintaining a heating temperature; and salt-bathing the cam piece, in which the cam piece includes 3.2 to 4.2 wt % of carbon (C), 2.2 to 3.4 wt % of silicon (Si), and the balance iron (Fe), and may have a carbon equivalent value of 4.4 to 4.6.

A decarburized self-piercing rivet is provided that can join dissimilar sheets of material while reducing the likelihood of forming cracks during the riveting process. The decarburized self-piercing rivet has requisite hardness and column strength to pierce the sheets of material and also has a ferrite layer that improves ductility and performance of the rivet. The increase ductility reduces the likelihood of cracks forming during the riveting process. A manufacturing process is also provided that austentizing and decarburizes the rivet simultaneously in a salt pot furnace to reduce the need for any post-austentizing localized heat treatments.

A decarburized self-piercing rivet is provided that can join dissimilar sheets of material while reducing the likelihood of forming cracks during the riveting process. The decarburized self-piercing rivet has requisite hardness and column strength to pierce the sheets of material and also has a ferrite layer that improves ductility and performance of the rivet. The increase ductility reduces the likelihood of cracks forming during the riveting process. A manufacturing process is also provided that austentizing and decarburizes the rivet simultaneously in a salt pot furnace to reduce the need for any post-austentizing localized heat treatments.

An adjustable spacer with a non-hardened intermediate portion therebetween is mountable between a pair of roller bearings also mounted on a shaft such an axle or spindle or the like. The intermediate portion allows the spacer to collapse in the axial direction to maintain desired axial loads on the bearings.

Methods of selectively cooling and quenching surface regions of high-strength transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel are provided. The method may comprise selectively cooling at least one region of an exposed surface of a hot-formed press-hardened component comprising a high-strength steel. Prior to selective cooling, the component has a microstructure comprising about 5% by volume retained austenite in a matrix of martensite. The selective cooling is conducted at a temperature of about 40 C. and forms at least one quenched region comprising about 2% by volume austenite. The TRIP steel may be zinc-coated and having a surface coating comprising zinc and substantially free of liquid metal embrittlement (LME). Zinc-coated hot-formed press-hardened components, including automotive components, formed from such methods are also provided.

Methods of selectively cooling and quenching surface regions of high-strength transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel are provided. The method may comprise selectively cooling at least one region of an exposed surface of a hot-formed press-hardened component comprising a high-strength steel. Prior to selective cooling, the component has a microstructure comprising about 5% by volume retained austenite in a matrix of martensite. The selective cooling is conducted at a temperature of about 40 C. and forms at least one quenched region comprising about 2% by volume austenite. The TRIP steel may be zinc-coated and having a surface coating comprising zinc and substantially free of liquid metal embrittlement (LME). Zinc-coated hot-formed press-hardened components, including automotive components, formed from such methods are also provided.

The invention discloses an on-line intelligent control method for the cooling characteristics of a quenching liquid in heat treatment production, which comprises the steps of: step 1: subjecting a workpiece to thermal insulation; step 2: measuring the cooling characteristics and the heat transfer coefficient of a quenching liquid followed by correction; step 3: starting cooling; step 4: then changing the internal circulation rate; and step 5: removing the workpiece. This scheme can effectively avoid the problem that the cooling of a workpiece in industrial production deviates from the ideal cooling characteristics of a quenching liquid obtained in a laboratory.

The invention discloses an on-line intelligent control method for the cooling characteristics of a quenching liquid in heat treatment production, which comprises the steps of: step 1: subjecting a workpiece to thermal insulation; step 2: measuring the cooling characteristics and the heat transfer coefficient of a quenching liquid followed by correction; step 3: starting cooling; step 4: then changing the internal circulation rate; and step 5: removing the workpiece. This scheme can effectively avoid the problem that the cooling of a workpiece in industrial production deviates from the ideal cooling characteristics of a quenching liquid obtained in a laboratory.

Micro alloyed steels with a yield strength of at least 485 MPa (70 ksi) with outstanding toughness behavior, good weldability and improved sulphide stress cracking resistance for line pipes, for applications as process pipes, flowlines or risers in the oil and gas industry. Tubular products, such as seamless pipes, can be made from this steel. A process for manufacturing tubular products can be performed with this steel. The seamless pipes can be used for line pipes, flowlines and risers in the oil and gas industry.