Kovettava

Kovettava is a Finnish term used primarily in metallurgy and materials science to describe a material that can be hardened by heat treatment or surface treatment. In Finnish technical language, kovettava refers to substances whose hardness can be increased through processes such as quenching, tempering, carburizing, or nitriding. The concept is central when distinguishing between materials that are inherently hard and those whose hardness can be enhanced by processing. Commonly, the term is applied to steels and certain alloys designated as kovettavat, or to components described as kovettava teräs. The noun form kovettaminen refers to the hardening process itself, while kovettava as an adjective or participle characterizes the material's potential.

Etymology: The word derives from the verb kovettaa, meaning 'to harden,' with the suffix -va forming an adjectival participle. This construction parallels similar formations in Finnish where 'X-ettava' denotes something that can undergo X.

Usage and translation: In English-language texts, the closest equivalents are 'hardenable' or 'hardenable steel.' The Finnish term is mainly found in technical manuals, metallurgical catalogs, and academic writings. It is less common in everyday language and may be replaced by more explicit descriptions of the particular hardening method used.

See also: Heat treatment, Hardening, Steel, Carburizing, Nitriding, Wear resistance.