EuroWire January 2015

News Technology

Environmentally friendly wire quenching

Thermcraft’s technology is a patented liquid-based quench technology that can completely replace the existing hazardous and expensive technologies of molten lead, molten salts and sand-based fluidised beds. LQF technology is now in operation as a replacement for a molten lead bath, quenching high carbon steel wire in the 1-2mm diameter range. The latest LQF unit consists of three cooling zones: two liquid zones separated by a short air-cooling zone. The LQF unit is installed immediately at the exit of the patenting furnace. The hot wires at ±920°C exit the furnace and go directly into the first liquid quench zone. The length of each quench zone is adjustable and determined by a target wire temperature. The amount of heat transfer in both liquid zones is adjustable based on the length of the liquid quench and the air-liquid ratio. The quench solution contains less than two per cent concentration of EcoQuench, Thermcraft’s proprietary quenchant formula that consistently forces convective heat transfer. Our LQF technology is 100 per cent environmentally friendly and does not release any hazardous fumes or other health threats to the machine operators. There are also no rejects, rework or scrap caused by lead-drag out. The properties of the LQF-quenched wire products are similar or better than the products quenched in conventional molten lead, salt or fluidised bed. The amount of pure pearlitic structure in the patented steel wire is claimed to be significantly higher in wires quenched using the LQF technology. This feature will be beneficial in the further process steps of wet drawing, stranding and cabling. Thermcraft offers the LQF technology for quenching steel wire in the range of 1-4.5mm (0.038"-0.18"). LQF

▲ ▲ Patented LQF technology from Thermcraft

Thermcraft Inc – USA Website : www.thermcraftinc.com

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January 2015