How proper care of quench oil can lead to consistent part quality and program cost savings.

o Contamination of quench oil has long been an overlooked problem within organizations that do metal heat treating, by both commercial and OEM companies. This paper will detail the causes and types of failures associated with highly contaminated quench oil, including; variations in the quench curve due to dirty oil, problems with part staining associated with carbon deposits, oxidation of the oil leading to reduced efficiency, shortened life of quench oil, safety concerns due to water contamination, extensive downtime associated with excessive sludge, and cleaning of reservoirs and equipment. The paper will give examples and data to validate the variations of the quench curve, by looking at both clean and dirty oil samples. Additionally, we will look at several case studies that show the relationship of clean oil to clean parts. The paper will also detail various methods of particulate and water removal and how effective they are with the quench oil application. This session would be important for the attendees that are utilizing quench oils and are looking to extend the life of their oil, quality of their parts, and reducing overall costs associated with the process.