Solution Annealing

This treatment is given to austenitic stainless steel. When this steel is heated to 1000^oC to 1120^oC the austenite acts as a powerful solvent for chromium carbide and makes a homogenous structure. This structure is retained by quenching heated steel in water, oil or air depending upon the thickness of the section. Air is best quenching media for thin sections. The process is also referred to as quench annealing.