Stress Relief is a heat treatment process applied to metal materials with the aim of reducing or eliminating internal stresses that may have arisen during manufacturing, welding, plastic deformation, or machining. These internal stresses can cause deformations or even fractures in parts, negatively affecting their performance and durability. Stress relief seeks to improve the dimensional stability and mechanical properties of parts, leave them ready for future operations and ensure material integrity.

This treatment is carried out by heating the material to a temperature below its crystalline transformation range, usually between 450ºC and 650ºC, depending on the material and the degree of stresses present. Subsequently, the pieces are kept at this temperature for a sufficient time to allow the relaxation of internal tensions. Finally, they are slowly cooled in a vacuum furnace to prevent the formation of new residual stresses.

It is important to note that stress relief does not significantly change the structure of the material or its mechanical properties, unlike other heat treatments. Therefore, it is widely used as a post-treatment for parts subjected to stresses (machining, deformation, etc.) and parts treated with Heat Treatment or with Ageing since the original structure or its characteristics are not altered.

TTT Group, performs these processes in a vacuum environment and uses inert atmosphere cooling to avoid surface oxidation in steels, titanium and nickel and exotic base materials. This careful handling of the environment ensures the preservation of the properties of the materials during treatment.

Stress relief is applied to a wide range of parts and components in various industrial sectors, notably in the aerospace and automotive industry. In the aerospace sector, it is applied to aircraft parts, turbines and aerospace structures in engines and landing gear, ensuring the structural integrity and performance of critical components. In the automotive industry, the treatment is applied to engine components, chassis parts and transmission systems, ensuring the reliability and durability of these elements under demanding conditions. Stress relief is essential, especially on parts that have been welded, cold-formed or machined, as it helps reduce residual stresses that can negatively affect their performance and service life.

This treatment finds its most common applications in the aeronautical, automotive and energy industries, where reliability and performance of components are of vital importance. In addition, this treatment is widely used in the metallurgical and mechanical industry to improve the quality and durability of parts and components, in the construction industry to reduce stresses in metal structures and avoid deformations over time and in the shipbuilding and offshore industry to improve fatigue and corrosion resistance in aggressive environments.

TTT Group holds the corresponding aeronautical certifications, which guarantees the application of these processes with the highest quality standards in aeronautical applications and in other sectors of the industry.