Q: Some grades of stainless steel say they are carbide solution treated. What does that mean?
A: Solution treating, sometimes referred to as solution annealing, is a common way to heat treat stainless steel where the carbide phase is dissolved. In this process, fasteners or bars are heated (to dissolve the carbide) and then quickly water quenched to lock in the micro-structure of the stainless steel. As a result, the solution annealed material is uniform, while the ductility and elongation is improved. This process is performed on 304 ASTM A193 Grade B8 Class 1 & 2 bolts as well as 316 ASTM A193 Grade B8M Class 1 & 2 bolts.