Why Aluminum???

galadduin

galadduin

Joined
Dec 25, 2004
Messages
1,363
For plate quench we all use Aluminum, I'm not complaining but I'm asking because of my curiosity. Isn't our old friend copper have more thermal conductivity (as far as I know it is the second most conductive metal, first is silver)? I guess Al is cheaper than Cu, thats why it is most widely used as plate quench block as far as I can guess. But Cu is not so expensive as silver, somewhat available material.

The thermal conductivity (in W·m−1·K−1):
Iron: 80.4
Al : 237
Cu: 401
Ag: 429

Do you know why Cu is not used as Plate: Is the speed of quench too high for air hardening steels or it rust more than Al ?
 
I am sure big chunks of copper would work. Just easier to find Aluminium and it cools air hardening steel plenty fast enough. Jim
 
There is more maintenance with copper I suppose, but mostly it's just more expensive. To get the same surface area you'd need quite a bit more weight in copper, not to mention it is easier to come by scrap aluminum in useful sizes. Some makers use steel, any heat sink is better than just plain air.
 
I have heard that scrap copper is going for up to $3.00/lb. in some places. The cost of a large/thick plate would be :eek::eek: I imagine.
 
Thank you, so it is the price and maintenance... I use 1" thick 12"X5" Al plates. Won't thinner Cu plate would work as it is much more effective to transfer the heat in combination of pressure air flow?... Then the cost will be minimized. Just a thought...
 
I don't believe it's necessary to speed up the aluminum since you're already quenching air hardening steels faster than air. Beyond aluminum is probably a point of diminishing (really non-existent) returns.
 
butcher_block said:
i might give it a shot on O1 in thin stock some time
just to see
Click to expand...

:thumbup: It might work for thin knives, under 3 bar pressure air small D2 kitchen knives were cooled down to around 400 F in 15 or 20 secs with Al plates. With copper it will be roughly 2 times faster than that, will be I guess enough for most oil hardening small knives. Somebody with O1 and Copper thick enough should try that. I love experiments but I dont have any of them :(.

I looked up there. So I have a happy news guys, it is possible to plate quench the water hardening steels also, all we need a big diamond plate first :D ...
 
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