karkaistusprosessin
Karkaistusprosessi, known in English as hardening or quenching, is a heat treatment process used to increase the hardness and strength of metals, particularly steels. The process involves heating the metal to a specific temperature above its critical point, where its crystal structure transforms. This is followed by rapid cooling, typically in a quenching medium such as water, oil, or brine. The rapid cooling prevents the formation of softer, more ductile microstructures, instead promoting the formation of martensite, a very hard and brittle phase.
The specific temperature and holding time during heating are crucial and depend on the type of steel