What does work hardening mean in metal?

work hardening, in metallurgy, increase in hardness of a metal induced, deliberately or accidentally, by hammering, rolling, drawing, or other physical processes. Although the first few deformations imposed on metal by such treatment weaken it, its strength is increased by continued deformations.

What is the hardening process of metals?

The hardening process consists of heating the components above the critical (normalizing) temperature, holding at this temperature for one hour per inch of thickness cooling at a rate fast enough to allow the material to transform to a much harder, stronger structure, and then tempering.

What is work hardening used for?

Work hardening is a process that can help to reduce the potential for cracking along the surface of a strengthened metal or metal alloy. By employing the process, it is possible to use metals in the creation of devices that are designed to withstand a specific amount of load for a certain period of time.

What is hardening and types of hardening?

Each metal hardening process includes three main steps: heating, soaking and cooling the metal. Some common types of hardening include strain hardening, solid solution strengthening, precipitation hardening, and quenching and tempering.

Does stainless steel work harden?

Stainless Steels and High-Temp Alloys are most prone to work hardening, so extra precaution is needed when machining in these materials.

Does stainless steel work-harden?

What is the difference between strain hardening and work hardening?

Work hardening, and strain hardening are one and the same. The process of work hardening may also be called as strain hardening, or vice-versa. When a metal or alloy is being worked below the recrystallization temperature, the material gains strength, hardness, u.t.s, but decreases in ductility.

Can copper be work hardened?

Copper wire or tubing is quite soft in its initial state, allowing for a variety of uses where the tubing needs to be bent to a desired shape. Upon bending, the copper hardens due to work hardening (also called strain hardening). Enough bending will make it impossible to return it to its original shape.

How are nonferrous metals hardened?

Most nonferrous alloys that have become hardened by cold work can be essentially restored to their original grain structure by annealing, during which process recrystallization occurs.