Självhärdande

Självhärdande, a Swedish term, translates to self-hardening. It is most commonly used in the context of materials science and engineering, specifically referring to a process where a material hardens or gains strength without external intervention, such as heat or added catalysts.

This phenomenon can occur naturally due to chemical reactions within the material itself or through physical changes like evaporation of a solvent. For instance, certain types of cements and resins are designed to be self-hardening, meaning they cure and solidify upon exposure to ambient air or moisture. This eliminates the need for specialized curing equipment, simplifying construction and manufacturing processes.

In metallurgy, self-hardening can refer to steels that harden upon cooling from a high temperature without the need for quenching in a liquid medium. This is typically achieved through specific alloy compositions that promote martensite formation upon air cooling. The term emphasizes the material's intrinsic ability to achieve a hardened state through its own properties and reactions. The practical advantage of self-hardening materials lies in their ease of use and reduced processing costs.