Over the past few years, an induction heating system has become a crucial tool for different applications. Engineers have started preferring induction heating over conventional heating methods, whether it’s melting, brazing, tempering, or hardening.
But does induction heating work on all metals? No, not every metal is an induction heating metal. Induction heating is a blend of electromagnetic energy and heat transfer that passes through a coil. It works on a unique magnetic field. As a result, it cannot work similarly on all types of metals.
So what metal can be induction heated? Let us learn more in the post below.
Which Metals are Suitable for Induction Heating?
Induction heating works fine on conductive materials, such as ferrous metal. Ferrous metals are those with high tensile durability and strength. In addition, the composition of such metals includes a good amount of carbon. This is the one main reason they are rust-proof.
Below are induction heating metal types you can heat with induction heating.
Stainless Steel
Although stainless steel is available in different thicknesses and finishes, induction heating can work with all types of stainless steel metals. Generally, a low-powered induction is utilized to heat stainless steel. The induction heating process for stainless steel metal is followed by effective cooling.
Brass
Brass is a common metal used in defense, aerospace, and similar industries.
Nowadays, a large number of manufacturers use induction heating systems for the annealing of brass. One good example of this is the annealing of brass bullet shells.
Iron
An induction heating system can heat and melt almost all iron and iron castings. Since iron metal is a conductive ferrous metal, induction heating can quickly transfer heat to it.
Gold
Gold is another metal for which induction heating technology can be used. Workers at gold mines use induction heating systems to melt this precious metal. In addition, gold refining firms also utilize induction heating to melt gold for precise assay.
Silver
Like gold, silver is also an induction heating metal. A wide range of silver and gold melting furnaces are available in the market. What makes them a better choice over traditional furnaces is that they do not harm the environment when casting silver or other precious metals.
Copper
Copper is one of the challenging metals to heat with induction. However, using induction heating to braze copper pipes is a common scenario in several industries. After all, it is safer and quicker to braze copper than the flame.
Platinum
Platinum also works fine with induction heating technology. Platinum HF induction systems are a great example of how induction heating can be used to anneal and hard platinum metal.
Alloy Steel
The properties of alloy steel are compatible with induction heating and heat treatments. Manufacturing firms use induction furnaces to melt or heat-treat alloy steel.
Titanium
Titanium is a high-strength metal resistant to chlorine, seawater, and more. This metal is common in surgical applications, spacecraft, aircraft, and more. Metals like titanium require accurate heating. As a result, induction heating technology is used to heat-treat it. In several industries, oscillating induction furnaces are used to heat long titanium billets precisely.
Aluminum
While aluminum metal features high electrical conductivity, induction heating is an effective and proven technique to heat aluminum. The use of induction heating is common on aluminum billets and aluminum alloys. After all, it offers precise and non-contact heating.
Other Compatible Induction Heating Materials:
- Cobalt
- Nickel and Nickel Alloys
- Tungsten
- Lead
- Cast Iron
- Gold Sand
- Steel
- Tin
- High Specific Resistance Plastics
Use of Induction Heating on Non-metallic Materials
Graphite
Graphite is a type of the element carbon having layers of graphene. In the semiconductor industry, induction heating technology is used to heat graphite crucibles.
Fiber Plastic Composites
Along with different metals, fiber plastic composite, also known as polymer composite, can also be heated with electromagnetic induction. Although induction heating technology is suitable for polymer material or thermoplastic, they require susceptor additives to transform electromagnetic energy into heat.
Resistance plastics
The use of induction heating is also common in the sealing of resistant plastic. The heating is also used in plastic injection molding machines.
Crucial Points about Induction Heating Metal
Induction Heating on Magnetic Material
An induction heating device can readily heat magnetic metals. After all, apart from eddy currents, these metals generate heat via the hysteresis effect. Therefore, the heating temperature reaches quickly above the Curie point. At this temperature, magnetic metals lose their magnetic properties.
Electric Resistivity
Electrical resistivity varies depending on the metal you choose for Induction heating. Even if you are heating copper and steel of the same size and with similar induction heating frequencies, they will have different resistivity.
Different metals have different electrical resistivity levels. Metals with low resistivity levels, such as copper, aluminum, and brass, take longer to heat.
Conclusion
So these are common induction heating metals that work fine with induction heating. For more info about induction heating technology or equipment, you may visit Foco Induction.
