How easily are QuesTek’s materials processed?
Maintaining reasonable processing paths is a key element in the design of a new material. Starting with the performance requirements established by the end user, QuesTek incorporates detailed property-structure and structure-processing relationships in a detailed material system design. The ultimate goal is to create a new material without substantially altering existing processing methods. For example, in their annealed state, QuesTek’s patented secondary-hardening Ferrium® steels range in the low to mid-thirties Rockwell C (HRC). In this state, the steels can be machined with conventional machining technology utilizing carbide tooling. Once machined to desired shape(s), the steels are carburized, quenched and tempered or nitrided to attain HRC hardness levels from the low to high-sixties.
