Austenitic stainless steels such as 304 or 316 are solution annealed by
heating above 1900℉ to dissolve carbides. To prevent sensitization (carbon segregation
to grain boundaries), the steel is cooled rapidly using high velocity argon or nitrogen.
Additional vacuum heat treatments are available for other types of stainless steel including
precipitation hardening.
NATIONAL HEAT TREAT has two (2) vacuum furnaces
capable of vacuum annealing and other operations.