Application of Wire Mesh Belts in Metal Heat Treatment Industry

Producers of high-volume, high-strength metal components are perpetually under mounting challenges to elevate and innovate the performance and quality of their products, all while effectively managing cost constraints. These exceptional products encompass a diverse range, from cold-formed automotive fasteners and clips to construction nails and screws, cutting and timing chain components, drive system gears, and pivotal bearing elements, among other notable examples. Each of these reference components necessitates distinct heat treatment processes, which bestow a distinctive thermal profile that renders the components sturdier, more robust, flexible, highly resistant to wear and corrosion, ultimately enhancing their overall durability and longevity.

Mesh belts play a crucial role in the heat treatment industry, facilitating the processing of various materials at high temperatures. They are versatile conveyor systems that can be customized to meet the specific needs of different heat treatment processes. Below, I'll provide a detailed application of mesh belts in the heat treatment industry:

High Strength and High Temperature Resistance Double Balanced Spiral Woven Belt

1. Annealing:
   - Annealing is a heat treatment process that involves heating materials, such as steel, to a specific temperature and then slowly cooling them to relieve stress, improve ductility, and refine the microstructure.

   - Mesh belts are used to convey the materials through a controlled heating and cooling process. The mesh design ensures even heat distribution, preventing warping or distortion of the materials.

2. Sintering:
   - Sintering is a process used to bond or fuse fine powders into a solid mass at elevated temperatures but below their melting points.

   - Mesh belts are utilized to carry the powder or compacted components through the sintering furnace. The open mesh structure allows for uniform heating and helps prevent sticking or agglomeration.

3. Brazing and Soldering:
   - In brazing and soldering processes, metal components are joined using a lower melting point filler material.

   - Mesh belts help move assemblies through a controlled heating zone, ensuring precise temperature control. The mesh design prevents the filler material from dripping and provides easy access to the joint area for flux application.

4. Tempering:
   - Tempering is a heat treatment process used to reduce the hardness of materials like steel after quenching, making them tougher and less brittle.

   - Mesh belts transport the quenched materials into the tempering furnace. The open mesh structure allows for uniform heating, helping to achieve the desired material properties.

5. Hardening: 
Employing precise heat treatment methods, the hardening process fortifies metal, rendering it tougher, more resilient, and highly resistant to deformation. This enhances its suitability for demanding applications.

6. Normalizing: 
Normalizing is a vital heat treatment procedure that involves heating metals to specific temperatures and then air cooling them at room temperature. This process is instrumental in reducing material hardness, making it more malleable and easier to shape for various applications.

7. Heat Treatment of Glass:

   - In the glass industry, mesh belts are used to transport glass sheets or containers through annealing ovens to relieve internal stresses and improve the glass's overall strength and quality.

8. Nitriding and Carburizing:
   - Nitriding and carburizing are processes used to introduce nitrogen or carbon into the surface of steel components, enhancing their hardness and wear resistance.

   - Mesh belts transport the parts through the treatment furnaces, allowing for precise control over time, temperature, and gas atmosphere to achieve the desired surface properties.

Wire mesh belts are chosen in the heat treatment industry for their ability to handle high temperatures, even heat distribution, and customization options. They can be tailored to specific furnace designs, material types, and process requirements, making them an essential component for achieving consistent and reliable heat treatment results. 

The heat treatment typically takes place inside continuous ovens for hardening that can reach temperatures of approximately 950°C. The parts to be treated are moved inside the oven on conveyor belts designed for high temperatures.

PFM Screen wire mesh conveyor belts for high temperatures are sized according to the operating conditions, the geometry and dimension of the parts to be treated and their load and are normally made of stainless steel AISI 310, AISI 314 or AISI 330.