EuroWire January 2015

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News
Technology
January 2015 33
Environmentally friendly wire quenching
▲ ▲ Patented LQF technology from Thermcraft
Thermcraft’s LQF technology
is a patented liquid-based quench
technology that can completely replace
the existing hazardous and expensive
technologies of molten lead, molten salts
and sand-based fluidised beds.
LQF technology is now in operation as
a replacement for a molten lead bath,
quenching high carbon steel wire in the
1-2mm diameter range.
The latest LQF unit consists of three
cooling zones: two liquid zones separated
by a short air-cooling zone.
The LQF unit is installed immediately at
the exit of the patenting furnace. The
hot wires at ±920°C exit the furnace and
go directly into the first liquid quench
zone.
The length of each quench zone is
adjustable and determined by a target
wire temperature.
The amount of heat transfer in both
liquid zones is adjustable based on the
length of the liquid quench and the
air-liquid ratio.
The quench solution contains less
than two per cent concentration of
EcoQuench, Thermcraft’s proprietary
quenchant formula that consistently
forces convective heat transfer.
Our LQF technology is 100 per cent
environmentally friendly and does not
release any hazardous fumes or other
health threats to the machine operators.
There are also no rejects, rework or scrap
caused by lead-drag out.
The properties of the LQF-quenched
wire products are similar or better than
the products quenched in conventional
molten lead, salt or fluidised bed.
The amount of pure pearlitic structure in
the patented steel wire is claimed to be
significantly higher in wires quenched
using the LQF technology.
This feature will be beneficial in the
further process steps of wet drawing,
stranding and cabling.
Thermcraft offers the LQF technology
for quenching steel wire in the range of
1-4.5mm (0.038"-0.18").
Thermcraft Inc – USA
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