NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.

Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.

Designation: B 597 – 92 (Reapproved 1998)

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Practice for

Heat Treatment of Aluminum Alloys1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 597; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope * 3.1.1 The definitions relating to heat treatment of metals

1.1 This practice is intended as an aid in establishing a appearing in Definitions E 44 are considered as applying to this
suitable procedure for the heat treatment of aluminum alloys. practice.
1.2 Times and temperatures appearing in the heat treatment 4. Apparatus
tables are typical for various forms, sizes, and manufacturing
methods and may not provide the optimum heat treatment for 4.1 Aluminum alloys are usually heat treated in molten salt
a specific item. baths or air chamber furnaces; however, lead baths, oil baths,
1.3 Some alloys in the 6XXX series may achieve the T4 fluidized beds, or even superheated steam may be used in
temper by quenching from within the solution temperature specific applications. However the use of uncontrolled heating
range during or immediately following a hot working process, is not permitted. Whichever heating means are employed,
such as upon emerging from an extrusion die. Such alternatives careful evaluation is required to ensure that the alloy being heat
to furnace heating and immersion quenching are indicated by treated responds properly to heat treatment and is not damaged
footnote K of the table for heat treatment of wrought aluminum by overheating or by the heat treatment environment.

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alloys. However, this practice does not cover the requirements 4.1.1 Salt Baths heat the work rapidly and uniformly. The
for a controlled press heat treatment. (A practice for press temperature of the bath can be closely controlled, an important
consideration in solution heat treatment of wrought-aluminum
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solution heat treatment of aluminum alloys is being devel-
oped.) alloys. Salt baths are not recommended for heat treatment of
casting alloys. High-temperature oxidation of aluminum is not
2. Referenced Documents
Document
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the Preview a problem in salt baths.
NOTE 1—Warning: Nitrate baths must not be used in the heat treatment
date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the of 5xx.x series casting alloys because of a possible explosion.
extent referenced herein:
2.2 ASTM Standards: ASTM B597-92(1998)
4.1.2 Air-Chamber Furnaces may be oil- or gas-fired or
may be electrically heated. The atmosphere in air chamber
B 275https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/3ec20137-cf23-4540-9208-a232fecf1332/astm-b597-921998
Practice for Codification of Certain Nonferrous Met- furnaces must be controlled to prevent porosity resulting from
als and Alloys, Cast and Wrought2 solution heat treatment. Furnace components that are signifi-
B 557 Test Methods of Tension Testing Wrought and Cast cantly hotter than the metal should be suitably shielded for
Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy Products2 metal less than 0.250 in. thick to prevent adverse radiation
E 44 Definitions of Terms Relating to Heat Treatment of effects. The suitability of the atmosphere in an air-chamber
3
Metals furnace can be demonstrated by determining by test that
2.3 American National Standard: products processed in that furnace are substantially free of
H35.1 Alloy and Temper Designation Systems for Alumi- porosity resulting from solution heat treatment.
num4
NOTE 2—Porosity resulting from solution heat treatment may lower
3. Terminology mechanical properties and commonly causes blistering of the surface of
the material. The condition is most likely in furnaces in which the products
3.1 Definitions: of combustion contact the work, particularly if the gases are high in water
vapor or contain compounds of sulfur. In general, the high-strength
1
This recommended practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-7 wrought alloys of the 2000 and 7000 series are most susceptible,
on Light Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B07.03 particularly in the extruded form or as forgings, and casting alloys in the
on Aluminum Alloy Wrought Products and Subcommittee B07.01 on Aluminum 300 series. Low-strength and alclad (two sides) alloys are practically
Alloy Ingots and Castings. immune to this type of damage. Anodic films and proprietary heat-treat
Current edition approved January 15, 1992. Published March 1992. Originally coatings are also useful in protecting against porosity resulting from
published as B 597 – 74. Last previous edition B 597 – 90. solution heat treatment. Surface discoloration is a normal result of solution
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.02. heat treatment of aluminum alloys and should not be interpreted as
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.02.
4 evidence of damage from overheating or as porosity resulting from
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street,
13th Floor, New York, NY 10036. solution heat treatment.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

1
 B 597
4.1.3 Automatic Recording and Control Equipment to con- 4.1.5 Batch Furnace Loading:
trol temperature of either salt baths or air furnaces shall be 4.1.5.1 Aluminum alloy mill products and parts shall be
capable of maintaining temperature in the working zone to supported and spaced in the furnace racks to permit heating to
within 610°F of the specified temperature. heat-treat temperature uniformly.
4.1.4 Quench Baths: 4.1.5.2 Raking and spacing procedures shall allow free
4.1.4.1 Quenching is normally performed by immersion of circulation of the quenchant to all mill products surfaces so that
wrought products in a cold-water bath and immersion of the specific product receives an adequate quench to meet the
castings and some forgings in a hot-water bath. The water baths requirements of the material specification.
must be located close enough to solution heat-treating facilities 4.1.5.3 Batch furnace loading of rivets and similar small
to minimize delay in quenching. Tanks must be of adequate parts in baskets to be water quenched shall be controlled by
size for the expected work load and must have the means of limiting the depth of parts in each layer and the minimum
providing adequate circulation of the quenching media about spacing between layers to preclude steam generated in any
the work load. Means for heating or cooling the quench water portion of the load from degrading the quench in another part
should be available when needed. Quench baths for salt bath of the load.
facilities require drain and fresh water inlets to prevent the 4.1.5.3.1 For material 1 in. or less in thickness or diameter
accumulation of dissolved heat-treat salts. An additional rinse that is cold water immersion quenched, random packing should
tank is desirable as a means of removing any salt bath residue be limited to a maximum thickness of three inches with a
carried from the quench tank. minimum spacing of three inches between layers provided the
NOTE 3—Quenching may be performed by alternative means such as material does not exhibit more intergranular corrosion suscep-
total immersion in a glycol water solution, liquefied gas, cold water, hot tibility than when quenched by dumping into cold water.
water, or boiling water, or by air blast or fog to minimize distortion
NOTE 4—Quenching by dumping small parts into water ensures access
provided samples from the material so quenched will conform to the (a)
of the quenching media to all surfaces of each part.
mechanical properties, (b) other requirements of the applicable material
specification and (c) not exhibit more intergranular corrosion susceptibil-
ity than if the metal was immersion quenched in cold water. The use of a
5. Calibration and Standardization

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water spray or high-velocity, high-volume jets of water in which the
material is thoroughly and effectively flushed is satisfactory for quenching
wrought alloys. Alternative quenching means are frequently contingent on
5.1 Calibration of Equipment:
5.1.1 Furnace and Salt Bath Temperature Survey:

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the type of product (sheet parts, forgings, castings, etc.).
4.1.4.2 During quenching it is important that cooling pro-
5.1.1.1 A temperature survey, to ensure compliance with the
applicable recommendations presented herein, shall be per-
formed for each furnace or salt bath.
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ceeds rapidly through the 750 to 500°F range in order to avoid
the type of precipitation detrimental to tensile properties and
5.1.1.2 A new temperature survey shall be made after any
changes are made in the furnace or salt bath that may affect
corrosion resistance. Maximum quench delay times for operational characteristics.
wrought alloys sensitive to quench delay appear in Table 1. For
casting alloys a maximum quench delay of 10 s may be
ASTM B597-92(1998)
5.1.2 Batch Furnace Calibration:
5.1.2.1 The initial temperature survey shall be made at the
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necessary to attain the tensile requirements in the product maximum and minimum temperature of solution heat treat-
specifications for Alloys C355.0 and A356.0 in the heat ments and precipitation heat treatments for which each furnace
treatment table for sand-cast and investment-cast aluminum is to be used. There shall be at least one test location for each
alloys and Alloys 354.0, C355.0, A356.0, A357.0, 359.0, and 25 ft3 of air furnace volume up to a maximum of 40 test
A444.0 in the heat treatment table for permanent mold alumi- locations, with a minimum of nine test locations, one in each
num alloys. Although other alloys are not as sensitive, in corner and one in the center. For salt-bath furnaces, one test
general, quench delay time should not exceed 45 s. location is required for each 40 ft3 of volume.
5.1.2.2 After the initial survey, each furnace shall be sur-
TABLE 1 Maximum Quench Delay for Wrought Alloys (for veyed monthly, except as provided in 5.1.2.7. The monthly
Immersion Quenching) survey shall be at one operating temperature for solution heat
NOTE 1—Quench delay time shall begin when the furnace door begins
treatment and one for precipitation heat treatment.
to open or when the first corner of a load emerges from a salt bath, and end 5.1.2.3 There shall be at least one test location for each 40
when the last corner of the load is immersed in the water, water-solution; ft3 of load volume, with a minimum of nine test locations, one
liquefied gas; or oil quench tank. The maximum quench delay times may in each corner and one in the center.
be exceeded (for example, with extremely large loads or long lengths) 5.1.2.4 The surveys shall reflect the normal operating char-
provided samples of the material so quenched conform to the expected acteristics of the furnace. If the furnace is normally charged
mechanical properties and other characteristics of satisfactorily heat-
treated material. For 2219 alloy the metal temperature should be above
after being stabilized at the correct operating temperature, the
900°F at the time of quenching. For other alloys the metal temperature temperature-sensing elements shall be similarly charged. If the
should be above 775°F. furnace is normally charged cold, the temperature-sensing
Nominal Thickness, in. Maximum Time, s elements shall be charged cold. After insertion of the
Up to 0.016 incl 5
temperature-sensing elements, readings should be taken fre-
0.017 to 0.031 incl 7 quently enough to determine when the temperature of the
0.032 to 0.090 incl 10 hottest region of the furnace approaches the bottom of the
0.091 and over 15
temperature range being surveyed. From that time until thermal

2
 B 597
TABLE 2 Tests Required
Tests
Porosity
Material Tensile Resulting from Intergranular Diffusion
Eutectic Melting
PropertiesA Solution Heat CorrosionC (Alclad Only)D
TreatmentB
Plate and sheet x x XE x x
Castings x ... ... ... ...
Bar, rod, wire, and shapes x x x ... x
Forgings x x x ... x
Tubing x x ... x x
Rivets and fastener components x x x ... x
A
Those specified in the applicable procurement specification.
B
Applicable only to material solution heat treated in air furnaces.
C
Applicable only to bare or alclad 2014, 2017, 2024, 2117, 7075, and 7178 alloys.
D
Not applicable for thicknesses less than 0.020 in.
E
Required only for sheet thicknesses.

equilibrium is reached, the temperature of all test locations are tested and meet applicable material specifications require-
should be determined at 2-min intervals in order to detect any ments, (b) the furnace is equipped with a multipoint recorder,
over-shooting. After thermal equilibrium is reached, readings or (c) one or more separate load thermocouples are employed
should be taken at 5-min intervals for sufficient time to to measure and record actual metal temperatures.
determine the recurrent temperature pattern, but for not less 5.1.2.7 Monthly surveys for batch furnaces are not neces-
than 30 min. Before thermal equilibrium is reached, none of the sary when the furnace or bath is equipped with a permanent
temperature readings should exceed the maximum temperature multipoint recording system with at least two sensing thermo-
of the range being surveyed. After thermal equilibrium is
couples in each zone or when one or more separate load
reached, the maximum temperature variation of all elements

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thermocouples are employed to measure actual metal tempera-
(both load and furnace thermocouples) shall not exceed 20°F
ture, providing that uniformity surveys show a history of
and shall not vary outside the range being surveyed.
3 satisfactory performance for a period of at least 6 months. The
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5.1.2.5 For furnaces of 10 ft or less the temperature survey
may be made with a minimum of three thermocouples located sensing thermocouples shall be installed so as to record the
at front, center, and rear or at top, center, and bottom of the temperature of the heated media (air, salt, lead, etc.) or actual
furnace.
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5.1.2.6 For furnaces used only for precipitation treatment,
metal temperatures. However, periodic surveys should also be
made at 6-month intervals in accordance with the procedures
after the initial temperature-uniformity survey, as outlined in outlined for the monthly survey.
5.1.2.7, surveys need not be made more often than at each
ASTM B597-92(1998)
6-month interval provided that (a) test specimens from each lot
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TABLE 3 Recommended Heat Treatment for Wrought Aluminum Alloys

Solution Heat Treatment Precipitation Heat TreatmentA

Product Metal Tempera- Quench Tem- Metal Tempera- Time at Tem-
Temper Temper
ture, 610°FB,C perature, °FD ture, 610°F perature, h
2011 Alloy
Cold finished wire, rod, 945–985 100 max T3E 320 14 T8E
bar, T4 ... ... ...
T451F ... ... ...
Drawn tube 975 100 max T3E ... ... ...
T4511F
2014 Alloy
Flat sheet, bare or alclad 935 100 max T3E ... ... ...
T42 320 18 T62
Coiled sheet, bare or 935 100 max T4 320 18 T6
alclad T42 320 18 T62
Plate, bare or alclad 935 100 max T451F 320 18 T651F
T42
Cold finished rod, bar or 935 100 max T4 320 18 T6
wire or 350 8
T451G 320 18 T651G
or 350 8
T42 320 18 T62
or 350 8
Extruded rod, bar, wire, 935 100 max T4 320 18 T6
shapes, tube or 350 8
T4510G 320 18 T6510G

3
 B 597

TABLE 3 Continued
Solution Heat Treatment Precipitation Heat TreatmentA
Product Metal Tempera- Quench Tem- Metal Tempera- Time at Tem-
Temper Temper
ture, 610°FB,C perature, °FD ture, 610°F perature, h
or 350 8
T4511G 320 18 T6511G
or 350 8
T42 320 18 T62
or 350 8
Drawn Tube 935 100 max T4 320 18 T6
T42 320 18 T62
Die forgings 935 140–180 T4 340 10 T6
Hand forgings and rolled 935 140–180 T452H 340 10 T652H
rings T4 340 10 T6
2017 Alloy
Cold finished wire, rod or 925–950 100 max T4 ... ... ...
bar T451G ... ... ...
T42 ... ... ...
2018 Alloy
Die forgings 940–970 212 T4 340 10 T61
2024 Alloy
Flat sheet bare or alclad 920 100 max T3E 375 12 T81E
T361I 375 8 T861I
T42 375 9 T62
T42 375 16 T72
Coiled sheet bare or alclad 920 100 max T4 375 ... ...
T42 375 9 T62
T351F T851F

iTeh Standards
Plate, bare or alclad 920 100 max 375 12
T361I 375 8 T861I
T42 375 9 T62
Cold finished wire, rod, bar 920 100 max T351G 375 12 T851G

(https://standards.iteh.ai) T36I
T4
T42
...
375
375
...
12
16
...
T6
T62
Extruded wire, rod, bar,
shapes, tube
920
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100 max T3E
T3510G
T3511G
375
375
375
12
12
12
T81E
T8510G
T8511G
T42 ... ... ...
Drawn tube 920 100 max T3E ... ... ...
ASTM B597-92(1998)
T42 ... ... ...

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2025 Alloy
Die forgings 960 140–160 T4 340 10 T6
2117 Alloy
Cold finished, wire or rod 925–950 100 max T4 ... ... ...
2124 Alloy
Plate 920 100 max T351F 3’5 12 T851F
2218 Alloy
Die forging 950 212 T4 340 10 T61
2219 Alloy
Flat sheet bare or alclad 995 100 max T31E 350 18 T81F
T37J 325 24 T87J
T42 375 36 T62
Plate 995 100 max T37J 350 18 T87J
T351F 350 18 T851F
T42 375 36 T62
Cold finished wire, rod, bar 995 100 max T4 375 36 T6
T351G 375 18 T851G
Extruded rod, bar, shape, 995 100 max T31E 375 18 T81E
wire, tube T3510G 375 18 T8510G
T42 375 18 T851G
375 36 T62
Die forging and rolled ring 995 100 max T4 375 26 T6
Hand forging 995 100 max T4 375 26 T6
T352H 350 18 T852H
2618 Alloy

4
 B 597

TABLE 3 Continued
Solution Heat Treatment Precipitation Heat TreatmentA
Product Metal Tempera- Quench Tem- Metal Tempera- Time at Tem-
Temper Temper
ture, 610°FB,C perature, °FD ture, 610°F perature, h
Die, hand, and rolled ring 985 212 T4 390 20 T61
forgings
4032 Alloy
Die forgings 940–970 140–180 T4 340 10 T6
6005 and 6005A Alloy
Extruded rod, bar, shape, ...K ... T1 350 8 T5
and tube
6053 Alloy
Cold-finished rod and wire 970 100 max T4 355 8 T61
Die forgings 970 100 max T4 340 10 T6
6061 Alloy
L
Sheet, bare or alclad 960–1075 100 max T4 320 18 T6
T42 320 18 T62
Plate 960–1075 100 max T451F 320 18 T651F
T42 320 18 T62
M
Tread plate 960–1075 100 max T4 320 18 T6
Cold finished rod, bar or 960 to 1025 100 maxI T4 340 8 T6
wire or 320 18
T3 340 8 T89M
or 320 18
T4 340 8 T94N
or 320 18

iTeh Standards
T451G 340 8 T651G
or 320 18
T42 340 8 T62
or 320 18
Extruded tube rod, bar,
shapes
...
960–1025 (https://standards.iteh.ai)
...
100I
T1
T4
T4510G
350
350
350
8
8
8
T51
T6
T6510G

Structural shapes 960–1025

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100I
T4511G
T42
T4
350
350
350
8
8
8
T6511G
T62
T6
Pipe 960–1025 100I T4 350 8 T6
Drawn tube 960–1075 100 max T4 340 8 T6
ASTM B597-92(1998) or 320 18
T42 340 T62 8
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or 320 18
Die and hand forgings 960–1075 100 max T4 340 8 T6
or 320 18
Rolled rings 960–1075 100 max T4 350 8 T6
T452O 350 8 T652O
6063 Alloy
Extruded rod, bar, tube, ...K ... T1 400 1 to 2 T5
shapes or 360 3
T1 400 1 to 2 T52
or 360 3
Extruded rod, bar, tube, 970K 100 maxP T4 360 6 T6
shapes (cont’d) or 350 8
T42 360 6 T62
or 350 8
Drawn tube 970 100 max T4 350 8 T6
T3 350 8 T83M
T3 350 8 T831M
T3 350 8 T832M
T31 ... ... ...
T42 350 8 T62
Pipe 970K 100 maxP T4 360 6 T6
or 350 8
6066 Alloy
Extruded rod, bar, shapes, 960–1010 100 max T4 350 8 T6
tube T4510G 350 8 T6510G
T4511G 350 8 T6511G
T42 350 8 T62
Die forgings 960–1010 100 max T4 350 8 T6
6070 Alloy

5
 B 597

TABLE 3 Continued
Solution Heat Treatment Precipitation Heat TreatmentA
Product Metal Tempera- Quench Tem- Metal Tempera- Time at Tem-
Temper Temper
ture, 610°FB,C perature, °FD ture, 610°F perature, h
Extruded rod, bar, shapes, 1015 100 max T4 320 18 T6
tube T42 320 18 T62
6101 Alloy
Extruded rod, bare tube, 970K 100 maxP T4 390 10 T6
pipe, and structural T4 440 5 T61
shapes T4 410 9 T63
T4 535 7 T64
T4 430 3 T65
6105 Alloy
Extruded rod, bar, shape, ...K ... T1 350 8 T5
tube
6110 Alloy
Rod, bar, wire, cold 980–1050 100 max T4 380 8 T9P
finished
6151 Alloy
Die forgings 950–980 100 max T4 340 10 T6
Rolled rings 960 100 max T4 340 10 T6
T452H 340 10 T652H
6201 Alloy
Wire 950 100 max T3 320 4 T81M
6262 Alloy
Cold finished wire, rod, bar 960–1050
iTeh Standards
100 max T4
T4
T451G
340
340
340
8
8
8
T6
T9P
T651G
Extruded rod, bar, shapes,
tube
960–1050
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100 max T4
T4510G
T4511G
350
350
350
12
12
12
T6
T6510G
T6511G

Drawn tube 960–1050 Document Preview

100 max
T42
T4
T4
350
340
340
12
8
8
T62
T6
T9P
T42 340 8 T62

ASTM6351 B597-92(1998)
Alloy
Extruded rod, bar, shapes ...K ... T1 350 8 T5
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and tube 350 8 T51
350 8 T52
350 8 T53
250 10 T54
or 350 8
...K ... T11
960 to 1010K 100P T4 350 8 T6
6463 Alloy
Extruded rod, bar, shapes, ...K ... T1 400 1 T5
and tube
or 360 3
970K 100 maxP T4 350 8 T6
or 360 6
7001 Alloy
Extruded rod, bar, shape, 870 100 max WQ 250 24 T6
and tube W510G,Q 250 24 T6510G
W511G,Q 250 24 T6511G
WQ 250 24 T62
7005 Alloy
K
Extruded rod, bar, shape ... T1 room temperature 72 plus
225 8 plus T53
300 16
7049 Alloy
Extruded rod, bar, shape 875 100 max W511G,Q room temperature 48 plus
250 24 plus T76511G
325 12 to 14
W511G,Q room temperature 48 plus