glasurgehärtete

Glasurgehärtete is a German term that translates to "glass-hardened" in English. It refers to a process of heat treatment applied to certain materials, most commonly metals, to achieve a specific microstructure and set of properties. The core principle involves heating the material to a temperature above its critical point, where it transforms into a different crystalline structure, and then rapidly cooling it. This rapid cooling, often referred to as quenching, prevents the material from returning to its softer, original state. Instead, it forms a harder, more brittle phase, typically martensite in steels.

The purpose of glasurgehärtete treatment is to significantly increase the hardness and wear resistance of the material. This makes it suitable for applications where durability and resistance to abrasion are critical. However, the resulting increase in brittleness means that glasurgehärtete materials are more susceptible to fracture under impact or sudden stress. Therefore, a subsequent tempering process is often employed. Tempering involves reheating the hardened material to a lower temperature and holding it there for a specific time before cooling. This process reduces brittleness, increases toughness, and allows for a controlled trade-off between hardness and ductility, tailoring the material's properties to its intended use. Examples of applications for glasurgehärtete materials include tools, cutting edges, and high-wear components.