What is the main purpose of age hardening in rivets?

The main purpose of age hardening in rivets is to increase strength. Age hardening, also known as precipitation hardening, is a heat treatment process used to enhance the mechanical properties of certain alloys, including aluminum and titanium used in rivets. During this process, the material is heated to allow for the formation of hardening precipitates, which impede dislocation movement within the metal's crystal structure. This results in improved yield strength and overall hardness of the rivet.

As rivets are often subjected to high loads and stresses in structural applications, increasing their strength through age hardening is critical to ensure the integrity and safety of the structure. The enhanced properties obtained through this process help to maintain the strength necessary for the rivets to securely hold various components together, ensuring reliability and durability in service.