Process of controlled heating and cooling applied to copper and its alloys to alter its microstructure and improve its mechanical properties. Copper is naturally soft and ductile, but heat treatment can be used to make it stronger, more formable, or improve its electrical conductivity.

The common types of copper heat treatment

This is the most common type of heat treatment for copper. It involves heating the copper to a specific temperature and then slowly cooling it. Annealing relieves internal stresses inthe metal, increases its ductility, and makes it easier to form or shape.

This is a type of annealing that is used to relieve stresses in copper that have been introduced by cold working, such as machining or welding. Stress relief annealing is typically done at a lower temperature than annealing.

This is a process that is used to increase the strength of copper alloys. It involves heating the alloy to a high temperature, quenching it rapidly to trap the alloying elements in a supersaturated solid solution, and then aging it at a lower temperature to allow fine precipitates to form. These precipitates impede the movement of dislocations in the metal, which makes it stronger.

This process is used to improve the uniformity of the microstructure of copper alloys. It involves heating the alloy to a high temperature for an extended period of time, which allows the alloying elements to diffuse more uniformly throughout the metal.