Homogenization and heat-treatment of cast metals

摘要

A method is provided of heating a cast metal ingot to prepare said ingot for hot-working at a predetermined temperature, which method comprises:
(a) pre-heating said ingot to a nucleating temperature below said predetermined hot-working temperature at which precipitate nucleation occurs in the metal to cause nucleation to take place;
(b) heating said ingot further to a precipitate growth temperature at which precipitate growth occurs to cause precipitate growth in the metal; and
(c) if said ingot is not already at said predetermined hot-working temperature after step (b), heating said ingot further to said predetermined hot-working temperature ready for hot-working.