solutiontreated

Solution-treated is a property designation used in metallurgy to describe a material that has undergone a solution treatment. This heat-treatment step dissolves insoluble precipitates or second phases into a homogeneous solid solution by heating the alloy to a high temperature, followed by rapid cooling. The resulting microstructure is typically softer and more uniform than the as-cast or aged condition.

During solution treatment, the alloy is held at a temperature sufficient to dissolve second-phase particles and to homogenize composition throughout the material. The duration depends on alloy chemistry and thickness. Rapid quenching, often in water, is used to prevent re-precipitation of the dissolved elements. The aim is to create a supersaturated solid solution that can later be strengthened by aging or precipitation hardening.

Solution-treated materials are commonly used as the starting point for age-hardened alloys, especially certain aluminum systems. After solution treatment and quenching, artificial aging at an elevated temperature promotes controlled precipitation of fine strengthening particles, increasing yield strength and hardness while attempting to preserve ductility. The exact aging response depends on composition and processing.

Although widely used, solution treatment can introduce residual stresses and distortion if cooling is not properly controlled. It is typically one step in a broader heat-treatment or forming sequence, and some alloys require additional solution treatment cycles or alternative processing.