Changing The Structure And Properties Of A Metal

Question 2

What is annealing?

Answer 2

Annealing is a heat treatment process that
changes the physical and sometimes also the
chemical properties of a material to increase
ductility and reduce the hardness to make it
more workable.

Question 3

Advantages of annealing

Answer 3

• improves the workability of a material
• increasing toughness
• reducing hardness
• increasing the ductility and machinability of a metal.

Question 4

Disadvantages of annealing

Answer 4

it can be a time consuming procedure

Question 5

What is tempering?

Answer 5

Tempering is a type of heat treatment used to increase the toughness of
certain metals, most commonly iron-based alloys like steel.

Question 6

Advantages of tempering

Answer 6

Improving toughness and hardness

Question 7

Disadvantages of tempering

Answer 7

steel becomes hard and brittle

Question 8

What is hardening?

Answer 8

The hardening process consists of heating the components above the critical 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.

Question 9

Advantages of hardening

Answer 9

• it allows the component to be welded easier
• increase the strength.

Question 10

Disadvantages of hardening

Answer 10

• it can increase brittleness
• can increase cost as well

Question 11

What is work hardening?

Answer 11

Is the strengthening of a metal or polymer by plastic deformation. The strengthening occurs because of dislocation movements and dislocation generation within the crystal structure of the material.

Question 12

Advantages of work hardening

Answer 12

• Increase strength and hardness

Question 13

Disadvantage of work hardening

Answer 13

It can increase the brittleness of a metal

Question 14

What is case hardening?

Answer 14

Is a process used for hardening the surface of steels with less that 0.4% carbon content. This produces an outer casting with greater hardness and resistance to surface wear and indentation, while the inner core of the metal retains its original strength and toughness.

Question 15

Advantages of case hardening

Answer 15

• increased surface hardness and wear resistance
• enhanced fatigue strength
• improved weldability

Question 16

Disadvantages of case hardening

Answer 16

• potential distortion during the process
• difficulty in working with the hardened steel and a possible reduction in ductility, especially at low temperatures.