Vacuum heat treating is a precise process that removes air and reactive elements from the heat-treating environment to prevent oxidation and contamination. The result is cleaner surfaces, tighter control, and superior part quality.

At P&L Heat Treating, we provide vacuum heat treating services for components made from steel, exotic metals, and ferrous alloys—whether as an interim step or a final finishing process.

Our Capabilities Include:

Vacuum Bright Hardening & Annealing

10-Bar, High-Speed Quench Capabilities

Isothermal Quenching

Our advanced vacuum systems ensure consistent, repeatable results that meet even the most demanding specifications.

Hardening is a controlled heating and cooling process designed to enhance the strength and durability of metals and alloys. By carefully managing temperature and cooling rates, this treatment increases resistance to wear, fatigue, and deformation — resulting in parts that perform under pressure.

At P&L Heat Treating, we offer both vacuum and atmosphere hardening options to suit a wide range of materials and applications. Our precision-controlled furnaces ensure even heat distribution throughout each load, minimizing distortion and delivering consistent, high-quality results.

Conventional Endothermic Hardening with Gas Protection Options:

Fan Cool

Still Air Cool

Water Quench

Stress relieving is a controlled, low-temperature process used to reduce internal stresses that develop during manufacturing, machining, or welding. These stresses, if left untreated, can lead to distortion or dimensional instability in finished parts.

At P&L Heat Treating, our stress relieving services stabilize materials without changing their structure or hardness — ensuring consistent performance and dimensional integrity. We’re equipped to handle all metals and plastics, delivering clean, reliable results with precise temperature control.

Available Processes:

Nitrogen Protection

No Protection

Vacuum

Whether it’s part of your pre-machining preparation or a post-weld treatment, P&L Heat Treating provides dependable stress relieving solutions that enhance the stability and longevity of your components.

Tempering is a controlled, low-temperature heat treatment performed after the hardening process. Its purpose is to reduce brittleness and improve toughness, creating a balanced combination of strength, ductility, and durability.

At P&L Heat Treating, we customize each tempering cycle to achieve the ideal hardness-to-toughness ratio for your specific application. Our advanced equipment ensures consistent temperature uniformity and repeatable results across every load.

Available Processes:

Recirculated Air

Vacuum

With precise temperature control and a focus on quality, P&L Heat Treating delivers reliable tempering results that extend part life and enhance overall performance.

Vacuum tempering provides a clean, controlled atmosphere that eliminates discoloration and surface scaling often seen with conventional air tempering. This process is ideal for high-speed and tool steels, where surface integrity and finish are critical to performance.

At P&L Heat Treating, our vacuum tempering furnaces deliver precise temperature uniformity, ensuring consistent mechanical properties and a flawless finish on every part.

Available Process:

Vacuum

By combining advanced technology with decades of expertise, we help manufacturers achieve the perfect balance of strength, toughness, and surface quality.

Gas nitriding is a specialized heat treating process that introduces a controlled mix of ammonia and nitrogen to the surface of a metal, producing a hard, wear-resistant outer layer. This lower-temperature treatment enhances surface hardness and fatigue strength while minimizing distortion — making it ideal for precision components.

At P&L Heat Treating, our controlled gas nitriding furnaces can accommodate parts up to 39 inches in diameter and 8,000 pounds, ensuring exceptional uniformity and repeatability across every load.

Available Process:

Controlled Gas Nitride

Our state-of-the-art equipment and expert technicians deliver consistent results that improve wear resistance, extend part life, and maintain dimensional accuracy.