Løsningbehandling

Løsningbehandling is a Danish term that translates to "solution treatment" in English. It refers to a specific heat treatment process used in metallurgy, particularly with alloys like aluminum and some stainless steels. The primary goal of løsningbehandling is to dissolve alloying elements into the solid solution of the base metal. This is achieved by heating the material to a high temperature, typically just below its melting point, and holding it there for a sufficient period to allow the solute atoms to diffuse and disperse evenly within the solvent matrix.

Following the solution treatment phase, the material is rapidly quenched in a cooling medium such as water, oil, or air. The rapid cooling is crucial. It traps the alloying elements in a supersaturated solid solution, preventing them from precipitating out into undesirable phases at slower cooling rates. This metastable state is what makes the alloy susceptible to subsequent age hardening or precipitation hardening treatments, which significantly increase its strength and hardness. Without løsningbehandling, these age hardening processes would not be effective. The specific temperatures and holding times are dependent on the alloy composition and the desired properties.