Thermal Processing

Wieland Lone Star performs all thermal processing needs in-house, eliminating the risks, delays, and variability of outsourcing. This full control allows us to deliver aerospace-grade reliability and “metal made right” every time. Thermal processing is essential for unlocking the full potential of aluminum-bronze alloys—enhancing mechanical properties like strength, hardness, ductility, and uniformity while ensuring consistent performance across every piece in a production lot.

In-House Thermal Processing: Precision You Can Trust

Most of our aluminum-bronze alloys, especially those supplied to the aerospace industry, require targeted heat treatment (e.g., normalizing / annealing, quenching, tempering) to meet standard-driven specifications. Our primary processes include:

Normalizing / Annealing

Castings are heated to a controlled temperature and cooled in either still air (normalizing) or at a slow, regulated rate (annealing). These processes refine grain structure and relieve residual stresses created during centrifugal solidification, improving dimensional stability and overall material integrity.

Quenching

Components are rapidly cooled in water to increase hardness and strength significantly.

Tempering

Following quenching, castings are reheated to a lower, precisely controlled temperature and held for a defined period. This process reduces brittleness, restores ductility, and enhances toughness while preserving the majority of the strength achieved during quenching.

The Wieland Lone Star Advantage

Uniformity across the entire lot — Consistent heating, quenching, and tempering for predictable, repeatable results
Enhanced mechanical properties — Superior tensile strength, yield strength, fatigue resistance, and overall durability tailored to high-stress applications
Traceable quality assurance — Every step—from alloying and melting through heat treatment, mechanical testing, and machining—is controlled and verified internally
Reduced lead times and risks — No third-party handoffs mean faster turnaround, fewer defects, and complete accountability
Aerospace-proven standards — Backed by AS9100 accreditation and our heritage in supplying critical components to this market

This in-house capability integrates seamlessly with our other core strengths: in-house alloying, coreless induction melting, centrifugal casting, and precision CNC machining.