Gehärtetem

Gehärtetem is the dative singular form of the participle gehärtet and is used in German as an adjective to describe something that has undergone a hardening process. In technical language, gehärtet refers to materials—most notably steel—that have increased hardness as a result of heat treatment. The form gehärtetem appears in phrases such as mit gehärtetem Stahl or Oberflächen aus gehärtetem Material.

Hardening, or Härtung, is achieved by heat-treatment procedures that alter the microstructure to raise hardness. Common methods include quenching (Abschrecken) followed by tempering (Anlassen) to balance hardness and toughness. Surface-hardening techniques, such as case hardening (Einhärten), nitriding, or carburizing, produce a hard outer layer while maintaining a tougher interior.

Applications include tools, gears, bearings, and cutting devices, where wear resistance is critical. Properties of gehärtete Materialien include high surface hardness and wear resistance, but potentially reduced toughness and greater brittleness if tempering is insufficient. The exact outcome depends on the base material, the chosen process, and the cooling and tempering parameters. The term is widely used in engineering, metallurgy, and manufacturing documentation to denote components that have undergone hardening.