Jump to content
I Forge Iron

How to harden copper


don't tread on me

Recommended Posts

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 years later...

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...
  • 2 months later...
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. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...