kovettamista

Kovettamista is Finnish term meaning the process of making a material harder or stronger. In engineering and construction, the word covers metal heat treatments, cement hydration, polymer curing, and adhesive hardening.

In metals, kovettaminen typically refers to heat treatment that increases hardness and strength. Heating steel into the austenite range and quenching to form martensite raises hardness; tempering afterward reduces brittleness. Surface hardening methods such as carburizing or nitriding add hard layers without large core changes.

In cement-based materials, kovettaminen describes curing or hydration, during which cement binds with water to gain strength. The rate and extent depend on moisture, temperature, and age. Poor curing reduces final strength, durability and resistance to cracking.

Polymers, resins, and adhesives cure by chemical reactions that link molecular chains or crosslink them. Curing can be heat- or moisture-activated, UV-initiated, or catalyst-driven. Finished materials exhibit higher hardness and rigidity, but may become more brittle.

Hardening describes a time-dependent process; it contrasts with drying. The term may denote temporary or irreversible changes. In practice, designers balance hardness with toughness and other properties; improper curing can cause defects such as porosity, cracking, or delamination.

In Finnish technical literature, kovettamista is used across industries; common contexts include steel processing, concrete technology, polymer science, and adhesives.