Advantages and objectives of stainless steel bright annealing
2024-07-31

Bright annealing is a type of annealing process that is used to produce products with a glossy finish, such as stainless steel.
When annealing is performed under atmospheric conditions, an oxide film is generated, which can cause the surface to darken. In bright annealing, a gas atmosphere containing hydrogen, nitrogen, or ammonia decomposition gas is used to prevent oxidation.
The right furnace type, size, and heating conditions are chosen based on the product's substance and size.
Advantages of bright annealing
Bright annealing is a type of annealing that falls under the category of non-oxidizing annealing.
It involves heat treatment in an oxygen-free environment, which prevents the material's surface from being exposed to oxygen and the formation of an oxide film.
This process is commonly used when preserving the material’s surface finish is important, as it maintains the surface's shine.
In addition to this, bright annealing has excellent compatibility with special steels, making it a popular choice in the industry.
Objectives of bright annealing
reventing oxidation of the metal surface
Providing a lustrous finish to metal surfaces
Lowering the hardness of stainless steel
Eliminating residual stress and work hardening in stainless steel
Brazing of metal substrates
Examples of applications of bright annealing
Bright annealing has a wide range of applications across various industrial fields.
Some of the most common applications
| Examples of use | Utilized components or utilization purposes |
|---|---|
| Annealing of austenitic stainless steel | Straight pipes, flexible tubes, and round rods |
| Brazing of metal substrates | Utilization in heat exchangers, electrical components, automotive parts, and gas appliances |
| Annealing of copper alloys | Processing of parts made of pure copper, brass, and phosphor bronze, among others. |
Temperature conditions for bright annealing of plate materials
| Processing materials | Plate width (mm) | Plate thickness (mm) | Heating furnace length (mm) | Heating capacity (kW) | Temperature (℃) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUS304, SUS430, Ti alloy | 450 | 0.015~0.2 | 9,100 | 337 | 1,100 |
| SUS304, SUS430, Ti alloy | 530 | 0.005~0.2 | 7,000 | 378 | 1,100 |
| SUS304, copper, 42Ni | 650 | 0.1~1.0 | 8,900 | 500 | 750 |
| SUS301, SUS304, Mg alloy | 700 | 0.03~0.2 | 9,800 | 417 | 1,100 |
| SUS301, SUS430 | 800 | 0.3~1.5 | 17,000 | 1,350 | 1,150 |
| Copper, brass, 42Ni | 200 | 0.1~1.0 | 5,500 | 75 | 600 |
| Copper, brass | 420 | 0.1~1.0 | 13,500 | 300 | 750 |
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