Particlehardened

Particlehardened is a term used in materials science to describe a process or a state where a material's properties, particularly its hardness and strength, are significantly enhanced by the presence of dispersed solid particles within its matrix. This phenomenon is a form of precipitation hardening or dispersion strengthening, depending on the specific nature of the particles and their formation.

In precipitation hardening, a supersaturated solid solution is formed, and then a controlled heat treatment causes fine, coherent precipitates to form throughout the matrix. These precipitates impede the movement of dislocations, which are line defects in the crystal lattice that facilitate plastic deformation. By restricting dislocation motion, the material becomes harder and stronger.

Dispersion strengthening is similar but often involves particles that are not coherent with the matrix and may be introduced through different methods, such as powder metallurgy. These incoherent particles also act as obstacles to dislocation movement. The effectiveness of particle hardening depends on factors such as the size, volume fraction, distribution, and interfacial strength of the dispersed particles. This strengthening mechanism is crucial in alloys like aluminum alloys and superalloys used in aerospace and other demanding applications.