härten

Härten, derived from the German word for "hardening," is a process used to increase the hardness and strength of materials, particularly metals. This is typically achieved by heating the material to a specific temperature and then rapidly cooling it, a process known as quenching. The rapid cooling prevents the formation of softer, less desirable crystal structures, instead favoring harder ones.

The effectiveness of hardening depends on the material's composition, especially the carbon content in steel. Materials with higher carbon content are generally more susceptible to hardening. The quenching medium also plays a role; water, oil, and air are common choices, with faster cooling rates generally leading to greater hardness.

After hardening, materials can become brittle. Therefore, a subsequent process called tempering is often employed. Tempering involves reheating the hardened material to a lower temperature and holding it there for a period before cooling. This reduces brittleness while retaining a significant portion of the achieved hardness, making the material more durable for practical applications. Härten is a fundamental technique in metallurgy, crucial for manufacturing tools, components, and structural elements requiring high strength and wear resistance.