facium Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 Copper is different, it will be soft after annealing regardless of air cooling or quenching. How hard copper will be after annealing (hard, half hard, dead soft) depends on how hot you get it. I think there has been a slight misunderstanding about copper returning to hard if air cooled. Some (but not all) non-ferrous metals do need to be quenched to soften them (Silver need to be held at temp over time, then quenched). If you let them air cool (4 hours?) then they would still be hard, but the original question was about copper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbmul175 Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Hi guys, I was wondering if and how you can harden copper. Thanks Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Traditionally it is work hardened. Note that there is a reason that steel has supplanted copper for tool manufacture... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Work hardening is the only way--hammering, stretching, rolling, etc. Beryllium copper alloys are precipitation hardening, and can be heat treated for higher hardness. 600°F-750°F for 1-2.5 hours depending on which alloy, and requirements needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 Lay a speaker on it's back and lay your pieces on it with a bunch of coins. Play loud window rattling music. Given time it'll harden copper alloys nicely. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbmul175 Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 On 08/06/2016 at 6:20 AM, Frosty said: Lay a speaker on it's back and lay your pieces on it with a bunch of coins. Play loud window rattling music. Given time it'll harden copper alloys nicely. Frosty The Lucky. Won't this 100% mess up my speakers ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Leave the covers on the speakers, you don't want stuff rattling around on the cones. Don't turn them to destroy my speakers volume. Another way is to put them in a box or metal bucket in the trunk of your car and do some gravel road driving. Stop when they're hard enough. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbmul175 Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 I have a dirt road that leads to my house, so the car thing sounds good. Thanks, Michael. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Shot peening will do it too. Anything that impacts the surface, stretches it, rolls it, or otherwise works it will harden it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mokumegane Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Would using a sand blaster also work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanvir Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 How can I harden 98.97% copper with Zr and Cr as trace elements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 1 hour ago, tanvir said: How can I harden 98.97% copper with Zr and Cr as trace elements Permanently submerge it in a bath of liquid nitrogen. Oh, did you want a practical solution? Well, you'll have to tell us how big a piece, what it's to be used for, what kind of stress and wear it will be subjected to, and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Work hardening; including ultrasonic hardening; some thermal methods; depends on what you are trying to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 Wallnut shell blasting won't remove material though an ultrasonic cleaner might do it for you. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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