Process to quench heat-treated metal components in an evacuated chamber by cold liquid followed by cold gas

摘要

An assembly quenches heat-treated metal work pieces (9) in a chamber pre-evacuated to between 0.11 and 6 MPa. In the process first stage the work pieces are exposed to sprayed cold liquid (11) whose b.p. is less than 0C, and in a second stage to cold gas (10) e.g. argon, helium and/or hydrogen at a predefined raised pressure. Also claimed is a suitable assembly.