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AMS 2759D

AEROSPACE Issued OCT 1984

MATERIAL Revised FEB 2006
Superseding AMS 2759C
SPECIFICATION

Heat Treatment of Steel Parts

General Requirements

RATIONALE

 AMS 2759D changes paragraph 3.3.1 by adding AMS 2759/11 to Table 1, 3.3.5, 3.3.5.1, 3.3.5.2, and
3.3.5.3 concerning purging, 4.2.2.3.2 concerning hardness test machines, 4.5 concerning logs, and
4.7 concerning reports.

1. SCOPE:

1.1 This specification establishes general requirements for the processes listed in 3.3.1 for heat
treatment of steel parts (See 8.2.1) by users or their vendors or subcontractors.

1.2 Reference to AMS 2759 on a drawing, fabrication order, purchase order, etc constitutes a
requirement to conform to the applicable provisions of the documents listed in 3.3.1 for the heat
treatment of steel parts of the particular alloy described. Parts made from steels other than
those specified in the detail specifications may be heat treated in accordance with the
applicable requirements using processing temperatures, times, and other parameters
recommended by the material producer unless otherwise specified by purchaser.

1.3 The conditions (temperatures, soaking times, cooling rates, etc) used by material producers,
forge shops, and foundries for qualification of response to heat treatment of their products shall
conform to the requirements of the specifications listed in 3.3.1.

1.4 Heat treatment of raw material by raw material producers, forge shops, or foundries should be
in accordance with the material procurement specification.

1.5 Processes such as vacuum-furnace heat treating, flame hardening, induction through-
hardening, austempering, martempering, and hot oil quenching are recognized heat treating
processes, but their requirements are not completely covered by this specification.

SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is entirely
voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole r esponsibility of the user.”
SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.
Copyright © 2006 SAE International
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE.
TO PLACE A DOCUMENT ORDER: Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada)
Tel: 724-776-4970 (outside USA)
Fax: 724-776-0790
Email: [email protected]
SAE WEB ADDRESS
ADDRESS:: http://www.sae.org
AMS 2759D SAE AMS 2759D

1.6 Safety - Hazardous Materials:

While the materials, methods, applications, and processes described or referenced in this
specification may involve the use of hazardous materials, this specification does not address
the hazards which may be involved in such use. It is the sole responsibility of the user to ensure
familiarity with the safe and proper use of any hazardous materials and to take necessary
precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of all personnel involved.

2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS:

The issue of the following documents in effect on the date of the purchase order forms a part of
this specification to the extent specified herein. The supplier may work to a subsequent revision of
a document unless a specific document issue is specified. When the referenced document has
been cancelled and no superseding document has been specified, the last published issue of that
document shall apply.

2.1 SAE Publications:

 Available from SAE International, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001,

Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada) or 724-776-4970 (outside USA and Canada),
www.sae.org.

 AMS 2750 Pyrometry

 AMS 2759/1 Heat Treatment of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel Parts, Minimum Tensile
Strength Below 220 ksi (1517 MPa)
 AMS 2759/2 Heat Treatment of Low-Alloy Steel Parts, Minimum Tensile Strength
220 ksi (1517 MPa) and Higher
 AMS 2759/3 Heat Treatment of Precipitation-Hardening Corrosion-Res istant and
Maraging Steel Parts
 AMS 2759/4 Heat Treatment of Austenitic Corrosion-Resistant Steel Parts
 AMS 2759/5 Heat Treatment of Martensitic Corrosion-Resistant Steel Parts
 AMS 2759/6 Gas Nitriding and Heat Treatment of Low-Alloy Steel Parts
 AMS 2759/7 Gas and Vacuum Carburizing and Heat Treatment of Carburizing-Grade
Steel Parts
 AMS 2759/8 Ion Nitriding
 AMS 2759/9 Hydrogen Embrittlement Relief (Baking) of Steel Parts
 AMS 2759/10 Automated Gaseous Nitriding Controlled by Nitriding Potential
 AMS 2759/11 Stress Relief of Steel Parts

 ARP1962 Training and Approval of Heat Treating Personnel

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2.2 ASTM Publications:

 Available from ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P. O. Box C700, West
Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, Tel: 610-832-9598, www.astm.org.

 ASTM A 370 Mechanical Testing of Steel Products

 ASTM C 848 Young's Modulus, Shear Modulus, and Poisson's Ratio for Ceramic
Whitewares by Resonance
 ASTM C 1259 Dynamic Young’s Modulus, Shear Modulus, and Poisson’s Ratio for
 Advanced Ceramics by Impulse Excitation of Vibration
 ASTM E 8 Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
 ASTM E 8M Tension Testing of Metallic Materials (Metric)
 ASTM E 10 Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
 ASTM E 18 Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic
Materials
 ASTM E 384 Microhardness of Materials

2.3 ANSI Publications:

 Available from American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY
10036, Tel: 212-642-4900, www.ansi.org.

 ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes

3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

3.1 Equipment and Pyrometry:

Thermal processing equipment and related pyrometric equipment shall be controlled in

accordance with AMS 2750.

3.1.1 Heating and Refrigeration Equipment: Automatic temperature controllers and data recording
instruments conforming to AMS 2750 are required on each furnace and mechanical
refrigeration unit. Temperature sensors shall be located in or adjacent to each work zone.
Thermocouples shall be protected, when necessary, from contamination. Instrumentation,
thermocouples, test equipment, calibration equipment, load thermocouples (See 8.2.2),
furnace temperature uniformity, and system accuracy shall conform to AMS 2750.

3.1.2 Quenching Equipment: Quench baths shall permit complete immersion of parts, shall provide
for agitation of the quench media or the parts, shall be of sufficient volume to absorb the heat
rejected by the most massive part to be quenched, and shall have a temperature indicator
with a sensor in the quench media. Quenching baths shall be free from visible contamination
which could detrimentally affect the process. Bath maintenance programs shall be
established, and a system check shall be made, prior to production use to ensure the
adequacy of the agitation system and that the system is designed to minimize susceptibility to
agitation variations. When using polymers, a concentration control system shall be
established prior to production use.

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3.1.3 Auxiliary Equipment: Fixtures, jigs, hangers, trays, racks, snorkels, etc shall be employed, as
needed, for proper handling of parts. Fixtures and fixture materials shall not cause
contamination of parts and shall not reduce the heating, cooling, or quenching rates to less
than required for correct hardening of parts.

3.1.4 Cleaning Equipment: Equipment shall be provided to clean parts before heat treatment, to
remove oil from parts quenched in oil baths, and salt residue from parts heated or quenched
in salt baths. When using polymer quenchants, a rinsing system shall be in place to remove
quenchant from the parts.

3.1.5 Vacuum Equipment: Vacuum furnaces shall have a calibrated recording instrument for
sensing the vacuum.

3.1.6 Servicing and Calibration of Atmosphere Control Equipment: Instrumentation used to control
furnace atmosphere shall be calibrated and serviced according to manufacturer’s
recommendation.

3.2 Quenching Media:

3.2.1 When liquid quenching is required, oil, water, or polymer/water solutions may be used as
specified for the alloy and temper indicated. The consistency of quench effectiveness shall be
determined for each tank by testing initially and quarterly thereafter by one of the methods in
3.5.4 and comparing the results with those obtained previously by the same method. The heat
treating facility shall establish control limits for each quenching system. If results indicate that
a quenchant is outside the established limits, corrective action shall be taken and the tests
repeated to verify restoration of the prior condition.

3.2.2 Problems, such as cracking and high residual stresses, due to an inappropriate quenchant or
improperly designed system which is not appropriate for a particular alloy and configuration
shall be avoided. Because of wide differences in quenching characteristics of different
quenchants in different quenching systems, a quenchant validation procedure shall be
implemented when initially establishing the quenching procedure or when changing from one
quenchant to another.

3.2.2.1 When substituting a polymer/concentration for an existing oil quenchant, the quenchant
validation procedure shall ensure that the polymer and concentration being substituted
achieves cooling characteristics which are similar to the existing oil quenchant and that the
properties being produced are equivalent to those for oil quenched parts (See 8.3).

3.2.3 Except when marquenching (See 8.2.3), the temperature of the quenchant shall be in the
range 60 to 160 °F (16 to 71 °C) at the initiation of the quenching operation, and shall not
exceed 200 °F (93 °C) at any time during the quenching operation, unless otherwise approved
by the cognizant engineering organization (See 8.2.4). In addition, oil and polymer
quenchants shall be used within the temperature range recommended by the product
manufacturer.

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3.2.4 Quench oil used in integral quench vacuum furnaces, where the quench chamber is below
atmospheric pressure, shall be vacuum degassed at approximately the maximum
recommended temperature for the oil initially and after each addition of oil.

3.2.5 Quenching from Salt Bath Furnaces: Water shall be monitored weekly to ensure salt content
does not exceed 2% by weight. Polymers shall be monitored weekly to ensure salt content
does not exceed 6% by weight.

3.2.6 Salt Removal: All salt residues shall be removed from parts processed in salt-baths or
quenched in brine, during or immediately following quenching.

3.3 Procedure:

3.3.1 Heat Treatment: Shall be in accordance with Table 1.

TABLE 1 - Heat Treatment Procedures

Type of Steel or Process Procedure
Carbon and Low-Alloy Below 220 ksi UTS  AMS 2759/1
Low-Alloy 220 ksi UTS and Higher  AMS 2759/2
PH and Maraging  AMS 2759/3
 Austenitic  AMS 2759/4
Martensitic  AMS 2759/5
Gas Nitriding  AMS 2759/6
Gas and Vacuum Carburizing  AMS 2759/7
Ion Nitriding  AMS 2759/8
Hydrogen Embrittlement Relief (Baking) of  AMS 2759/9
Steel Parts
 Automated Gaseous Nitriding Controlled by  AMS 2759/10
Nitriding Potential
Stress Relief of Steel Parts  AMS 2759/11

3.3.2 Cleaning: Parts shall be cleaned before heat treatment and following heat treatment
operations, as necessary.

3.3.3 Corrosion Protection: Parts shall be protected from corrosion during processing and storage.

3.3.4 Racking: Parts shall be racked and supported, or otherwise oriented, primarily to ensure
access of the heating, cooling, and quenching media to all surfaces of all parts and
secondarily to minimize warpage.

3.3.5 Purging: Whenever the atmosphere type (e.g., neutral, carburizing, nitriding) is changed, and
prior to heating of parts, remnants of the previous atmosphere shall be removed from the
furnace or retort and gas supply lines. This requirement does not apply if the heat treater has
documented confirmation that material removal after heat treatment will ensure that all
surfaces of finished parts will be free from contamination.

3.3.5.1 The removal of the previous atmosphere shall be accomplished by purging with the
replacement atmosphere at the highest temperature at which it will be used.

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3.3.5.2 The purging shall be performed in accordance with a procedure which has been proved
effective previously, by sensors (e.g., oxygen probe) or tests (e.g., microhardness) that are
capable of detecting the presence of the previous atmosphere or the resulting contaminant.

3.3.5.3 The efficacy of the purge shall be confirmed, in conjunction with the first heat treatment load
employing the new atmosphere, by the sensors or tests used to establish the procedure.

3.3.6 Loading: Parts shall not be loaded into a furnace with the temperature higher than the set
temperature, unless load thermocouples are attached to the part to ensure the part
temperature does not exceed the set temperature. The number, location, and method of
attachment of load thermocouples shall be approved by the cognizant engineering
organization.

3.3.7 Set Temperature: Control instrument(s) shall be set either at the temperature specified by the
procedures listed in 3.3.1 or at an offset temperature based on the last temperature uniformity
survey. The offset temperature shall be within ±10 F (±6 C) degrees of the specified set
temperature unless the temperature uniformity requirement is less than ±10 F (±6 C), for
which the offset temperature shall be within the uniformity range. The specific offset shall be
posted on the instrument. The offset temperature shall be selected to optimize temperature
distribution within the furnace so that the highest and lowest temperatures are equidistant
from the specified set temperature.

3.3.8 Salt Bath Additives: Shall be limited to the salts in the bath and to additives recommended by
the salt manufacturer.

3.3.9 Records: A furnace log, or equivalent documentation such as shop travellers, traceable to
temperature recorder chart(s), shall be maintained.

3.4 Qualification:

3.4.1 Suppliers: Facilities performing heat treatment in accordance with this specification shall be
approved as specified herein by the cognizant quality assurance organization.

3.4.2 Personnel: All personnel performing heat treating and associated operations shall be trained
and approved in accordance with a procedure such as ARP1962.

3.4.3 Equipment: Equipment used for thermal processing shall be approved to the requirements of
this specification and AMS 2750.

3.5 Test Methods:

The following test methods shall be used, when applicable:

3.5.1 Hardness: Shall be determined in accordance with ASTM A 370, ASTM E 10, ASTM E 18,
and ASTM E 384, as applicable. The approximate conversion of tensile strength requirements
to hardness shall be in accordance with ASTM A 370. Hardness tests shall be performed on
the thickest section, unless otherwise specified by the cognizant quality assurance
organization.

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3.5.1.1 Rockwell, or similar (see 8.2.14), hardness testing machines shall be checked before the
first use each day in accordance with ASTM E 18, using standard hardness test blocks for
the same scale as, and within 15 points of, the hardness of the parts being tested. Brinell
machines shall be checked before the first use each day, in accordance with ASTM E 10, at
the loads being used. A record of the daily checks shall be maintained.

3.5.2 Tensile Properties: Testing, when required by the cognizant engineering organization, shall be
in accordance with ASTM A 370 and ASTM E 8 or ASTM E 8M.

3.5.3 Salt Bath Neutrality Test: Immerse a piece of SAE 1095 carbon steel shim, nominally
0.003 inch (0.08 mm) thick, into the salt bath at operating austenitizing temperature for
10 minutes ± 1. Immediately quench the sample in water. Bend the sample until it fractures
and examine the fracture surface at approximately 10X magnification. A fracture surface
showing no evidence of permanent deformation (yielding or taking a set) is acceptable. If
permanent deformation is noted, decarburization has occurred and corrective measures to
adjust the salt bath are required.

3.5.3.1 The tests for surface contamination specified in AMS 2759/1 may be used in lieu of, and at
the same testing frequency as, the salt bath neutrality test.

3.5.4 Quench Rate Control: One of the following methods shall be used for the initial and quarterly
quench rate tests. The established method shall be proven to detect changes in speed of the
quenchant caused by contamination, and shall be shown to be sufficiently sensitive to
adequately detect differences in slow-, medium-, and fast-quench oils, and oil temperature
changes of 40 °F (22 °C) degrees.

3.5.4.1 Comparative Cooling Curve Evaluation: Variation in the quenching effectiveness of an oil,
water, or aqueous polymer quenchant bath shall be monitored using a suitable cooling
curve evaluation procedure approved by the cognizant engineering organization.

3.5.4.2 Mechanical property tests of all quenching media shall be performed by quenching
specimens of alloy steel, of appropriate hardenability and dimensions, and testing a
mechanical property (e.g. hardness, strength, modulus) which varies directly or inversely
with the effectiveness of quench. The specific test shall verify quenchant effectiveness by
comparing the tested mechanical property results with those properties listed on the
applicable drawing or in the material specification.

3.5.4.2.1 Specimen Selection for Mechanical Property Tests of all Quenching Media: Selection of
the specimen dimensions/hardenability combination should be aimed at achieving
approximately full hardening (e.g. 95% martensite on the surface) and significantly less
hardening (e.g. less than 50% martensite plus bainite) at the center.

3.5.4.2.2 Tempering Specimen for Machining: Specimens may be tempered lightly (e.g., at 500 °F
(260 °C)) after quenching to facilitate machining.

3.5.4.2.3 Testing Area: Tests may be performed on mid-radius, center, or entire section of the
specimen.

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3.5.4.3 Modulus: Modulus testing shall be by a dynamic (resonant frequency) method similar to
 ASTM C 848 or ASTM C 1259.

3.6 Additional Processes:

Parts shall not be subjected to thermal operations or straightening operations other than those
specified, unless permitted by the cognizant engineering organization.

3.7 Strength Ranges:

When only a minimum tensile strength is specified and the heat treating processor has the
option of selecting the tempering or aging temperature, the maximum tensile strength
(converted to hardness) shall be 20.0 ksi (138 MPa) above the specified minimum for strength
levels up to and including 260 ksi (1793 MPa) minimum and 25.0 ksi (172 MPa) above minimum
for strength levels over 260 ksi (1793 MPa) minimum.

3.7.1 When both the minimum tensile strength and the tempering temperature are specified, the
maximum strength shall be 30.0 ksi (207 MPa) above the specified minimum.

4. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS:

4.1 Responsibility for Inspection:

Unless otherwise specified by the cognizant quality assurance organization, the heat treating
processor shall supply all samples for processor's tests and shall be responsible for the
performance of all required tests and inspections. The supplier may use his own facilities or any
commercial laboratory acceptable to the cognizant quality assurance organization. Purchaser
reserves the right to sample and to perform any confirmatory testing deemed necessary to
ensure that processing conforms to specified requirements. The cognizant quality assurance
organization may review heat treating records and the results of tests and inspections to verify
that heat treatment conformed to specified requirements.

4.2 Classification of Tests:

4.2.1 Acceptance Tests: Hardness (3.5.1) and tensile properties, when required, (3.5.2) are
acceptance tests and shall be performed on each lot.

4.2.2 Periodic Tests: The following requirements are periodic tests and, unless (1) otherwise
specified by the cognizant engineering organization or (2) a reduced frequency is permitted by
 AMS 2750, shall be performed at the frequency specified herein on each piece of equipment
in service:

4.2.2.1 Daily:

4.2.2.1.1 Salt bath neutrality test (3.5.3) of baths used to heat treat steel to minimum tensile
strength of 220 ksi (1517 MPa) and higher.

4.2.2.1.2 Check of hardness testing machines (3.5.1.1).

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4.2.2.2 Weekly:

4.2.2.2.1 Furnace pyrometer system accuracy test (except equipment for stress relieving and
baking) as in AMS 2750.

4.2.2.2.2 Salt bath neutrality test (3.5.3) for baths used to heat treat parts to a minimum tensile
strength below 220 ksi (1517 MPa).

4.2.2.2.3 Salt content monitoring of water and polymer quenchants (3.2.5).

4.2.2.3 Quarterly:

4.2.2.3.1 Calibration of furnace instruments as in AMS 2750.

4.2.2.3.2 Servicing and certification or calibration of Rockwell, or similar (see 8.2.14), and Brinell
hardness test machines.

4.2.2.3.3 System accuracy tests and instrument calibration of stress relieving and baking equipment
as in AMS 2750 (See 8.2.5 and 8.2.6).

4.2.2.3.4 Temperature uniformity surveys of furnaces as in AMS 2750, except for furnaces used
only for annealing, stress relieving, or baking (See 8.2.7). Annually, the survey shall be at
the maximum operating temperature.

4.2.2.3.5 Quench rate control tests (3.5.4).

4.2.2.4 Semi-annually: Temperature uniformity survey of annealing, stress relieving, baking, and
controlled subzero transformation equipment as in AMS 2750.

4.2.2.5 Servicing and calibration of atmosphere control measuring equipment at the frequency
required in 3.1.6.

4.2.2.6 Calibration of Type B and Type C instrumentation at the frequency specified in AMS 2750.

4.2.3 Preproduction Tests: The following requirements are preproduction tests and shall be
performed prior to any production heat treating for each piece of equipment to be used, as
applicable:

4.2.3.1 Temperature uniformity survey as in AMS 2750.

4.2.3.2 Pyrometer system accuracy test as in AMS 2750.

4.2.3.3 Instrument calibration as in AMS 2750.

4.2.3.4 Certification or calibration of hardness testing machines (3.5.1).

4.2.3.5 Certification or calibration of tensile testing machines (3.5.2).

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4.2.3.6 Salt bath neutrality test (3.5.3).

4.2.3.7 Quench rate control test (3.5.4).

4.2.3.8 Calibration of atmosphere control measuring equipment (3.1.6).

4.3 Sampling and Testing:

4.3.1 For Hardness Testing:

4.3.1.1 Frequency of hardness testing shall be in accordance with Table 2. When hardness testing
would be destructive or impractical to accomplish, the method for verification of correct heat
treatment shall be as specified by the cognizant engineering or quality engineering
organization.

TABLE 2 - Hardness Testing

Operation Test Frequency (1)
 After final operation (hardenin g and tempering, Every part (2), (3)
aging, etc) (See 8.2.8, 8.2.9 and 8.2.10).

 After intermediate operations, when required One part from each lot
(austenitizing and quenching, annealing,
normalizing, solution heat treating, etc)
(See 8.2.7, 8.2.8, 8.2.11 and 8.2.12).

 After thermal processing subsequent to final One part from each lot
hardening operation (stress relieving, hot
or warm straightening, baking prior to plating,
etc) (See 8.2.5 and 8.2.6).

 After thermal processes subsequent to shot Not required

peening, plating, painting, etc (baking
after plating, drying, etc).

NOTES:
1. Each detail of a weld assembly shall be considered as a separate part.
2. Statistical sampling is permitted when authorized by the cognizant quality assurance
organization or when parts are subjected to 100% testing after thermal processing
subsequent to final hardening operation.
3. When statistical sampling is authorized, random samples shall be selected and tested in
accordance with ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 at AQL of 1.5 or less.

4.3.1.2 When heat treating standard components, such as nuts and bolts, for which the frequency
of testing is specified, the requirements of the component specifications shall take
precedence.

4.3.1.3 The test location shall be the thickest or heaviest section of the part which is practical to test
and where the test will not be detrimental to the function of the part.

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4.3.2 Lot: Shall be all parts of the same design, fabricated from the same alloy, heat treated to the
same property requirements in the same furnace(s) at the same time, and presented for
processor's inspection at the same time. In addition, for a continuous furnace, it shall be those
parts heat treated as a continuous production run during an eight-hour shift. When testing
parts after operations (e.g. stress relieving, baking, hot or warm straightening) that occur after
the final step of the heat operation (e.g. tempering, aging), a lot, in addition to the above, shall
consist of parts stress relieved, baked, hot or warm straightened, etc using the same
equipment at the same time.

4.4 Approval:

4.4.1 Facilities: The approval of a facility shall be in accordance with the following criteria:

4.4.1.1 The heat treating processor shall have a copy of his shop procedure available for the
cognizant quality assurance organizations. It shall consist of a full description of all
equipment and procedures that will be used to process parts to this specification and the
applicable specifications listed in 3.3.1.

4.4.1.2 All equipment shall be tested in accordance with this specification and AMS 2750.

4.4.2 Personnel: Training and approval of personnel shall be in accordance with 3.4.2.

4.5 Logs:

 A record (written or electronic storage media), traceable to temperature recording information

(chart(s) or electronic storage media) and to shop travelers or other documentation, shall be
kept for each furnace and load. The information on the combination of documents shall include:
equipment identification, approved personnel’s identification, date; part number or product
identification, number of parts, alloy, lot identification, AMS 2759 or other applicable
specification, actual thermal processing times and temperatures used. When applicable,
atmosphere control parameters, quench delay, quenchant type, polymer concentration and
quenchant temperature shall also be recorded. The maximum thickness, when process
parameters are based on thickness, shall be recorded and shall be taken as the minimum
dimension of the heaviest section of the part. The log data shall be recorded in accordance
with the heat treater’s documented procedures.

4.6 Records:

Furnace logs, recorder charts, all other shop records, and all test and inspection records shall
be kept available to the cognizant quality assurance organization for five years after heat
treatment. The records shall contain all data necessary to verify conformance to specified
requirements.

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4.7 Report/Certification:

The heat-treating processor shall furnish, with each shipment of parts, a certified quality
assurance report, traceable to the heat treat control number(s), stating that the parts were
processed in accordance with the requirements of AMS 2759D (or other applicable
specification). The report shall include: purchase order number, part number or product
identification, alloy, temper/strength designation, quantity of parts in the shipment, identification
of furnace(s) used, actual thermal processing times and temperatures used. When applicable,
the report shall also include: atmosphere type, quenchant (including polymer concentration
range), hot straightening temperature and method of straightening (e.g. press, fixtures), actual
test results, (e.g., hardness, conductivity, tensile, shear etc.) and a statement of their
conformance/nonconformance to requirements. This data shall be reported in accordance with
the heat treater’s documented procedures.

5. PREPARATION FOR DELIVERY:

5.1 Identification:

Identification of parts or product provided to the heat treat processor shall be maintained on the
parts at delivery.

5.2 Packaging:

5.2.1 When specified by the procuring activity, parts shall be protected with corrosion preventive
compounds when shipped.

5.2.2 Parts shall be packaged to ensure protection from damage during shipment and storage.

5.2.3 Packages of parts shall be prepared for shipment in accordance with commercial practice and
in compliance with applicable rules and regulations pertaining to the handling, packaging, and
transportation of the parts to ensure carrier acceptance and safe delivery.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

 A vendor shall mention this specification number and its revision letter in all quotations and when
acknowledging purchase orders.

7. REJECTIONS:

Parts not heat treated in accordance with this specification, or with modifications authorized by
the cognizant engineering organization, will be subject to rejection and shall be submitted for
disposition in accordance with purchaser's procedures for nonconformance.

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8. NOTES:

8.1 A change bar (l) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas
where technical revisions, not editorial changes, have been made to the previous issue of this
specification. An (R) symbol to the left of the document title indicates a complete revision of the
specification, including technical revisions. Change bars and (R) are not used in original
publications, nor in specifications that contain editorial changes only.

8.2 Terms used in AMS are clarified in ARP1917 and as follows:

8.2.1 Parts: Finished and semi-finished parts, including raw mill products, heat treated by the user
during the fabrication process or for qualification of response to heat treatment.

8.2.2 Load Thermocouple: A thermocouple attached to and in direct contact with the heaviest
section of a part or representative sample. There should be no gap between the thermocouple
and the part. It should be shielded against furnace radiation and protected against
contamination from the furnace atmosphere or heating medium. Where possible, it shall be
located in the slowest heating part of the furnace which contains the heaviest section of the
parts.

8.2.3 Marquenching (Martempering): Quenching an austenitized alloy in a salt or hot oil bath at a
temperature in the upper part of, or slightly above, the martensite range and holding until
temperature uniformity throughout the part is obtained, usually followed by air cooling through
the martensite range to ambient temperature.

8.2.4 Cognizant: The term applied to the engineering organization responsible for the design of the
parts, or its allied quality assurance organization, or a designee of these organizations.

8.2.5 Stress Relieving: Heating parts, before or after the final heat treating operation, in order to
relieve residual stresses caused by working or thermal cycling. When performed after the final
heat treating operation, it is done below the tempering, aging, etc temperature.

8.2.6 Baking: Heating parts (which are in the final heat treated condition and have been subjected
to an embrittling operation, such as pickling, plating, etc) in order to remove hydrogen from
the parts. This operation is normally performed at 375 °F (191 °C) but is always at a
temperature lower than the tempering, aging, etc temperature.

8.2.7 Annealing: Heating to a suitable temperature, soaking at temperature, and slow cooling in
order to get the part in its softest possible condition, usually for subsequent forming. The term
“annealing” means “full annealing”.

8.2.8 Hardening: Heating to a suitable temperature above the austenite transformation temperature
(austenitizing), followed by quenching to develop a martensitic structure suitable for tempering
to desired properties.

8.2.9 Tempering: Heating of the martensitic structure developed by hardening to an intermediate

temperature to develop a specific combination of strength and ductility.

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8.2.10 Aging (Precipitation Hardening): Heating to an intermediate temperature to cause precipitation

of constituents within the material which will produce an increase in strength and hardness.

8.2.11 Normalizing: Heating to a suitable temperature above the austenite transformation

temperature and air cooling to develop a uniform structure.

8.2.12 Solution Heat Treating (Solution Annealing): Heating to a sufficiently high temperature,
followed by cooling to hold one or more elements in solution for subsequent precipitation
hardening.

8.2.13 Thickness: The minimum dimension of the heaviest section of the part.

8.2.14 Rockwell: Hardness testing performed in accordance with ASTM E 18.

8.3 Although the results of both tests and production experience have shown that polymer
quenchants can be successfully substituted for oil quenchants for even highly hardenable
steels, the wide difference of cooling characteristics achieved with different types of polymers
and concentration levels requires that the validation procedure be targeted specifically toward
the intended polymer/ concentration.

8.4 Dimensions and properties in inch/pound units and the Fahrenheit temperatures are primary;
dimensions and properties in SI units and the Celsius temperatures are shown as approximate
equivalents of the primary units and are presented only for information.

8.5 Purchase documents should specify not less than the following:

 AMS 2759D
Size of parts
Quantity of parts
Part number or product identity
Material alloy designation of parts
Heat treating operations desired
Tensile strength, hardness, or condition to which parts are to be heat treated.

8.6 Similar Specifications:

This specification, when used in conjunction with the detail specification for the specific process
in 3.3.1, exceeds the minimum requirements of the current revision of MIL-H-6875 and AMS-H-
6875 for heat treatment of parts.

PREPARED UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF AMS COMMITTEE “E” AND AMEC

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