ruiskutemia

Ruiskutemia is a Finnish term that translates to "spray-tempering" in English. It refers to a process of heat treatment applied to certain metals, particularly steel, to improve their hardness and wear resistance. This method involves heating the metal to a specific temperature and then rapidly cooling it, typically by immersing it in a quenching medium like water or oil. The rapid cooling causes the formation of martensite, a very hard microstructure.

Following the quenching process, a tempering step is applied. Tempering involves reheating the hardened metal to a lower temperature than the initial hardening temperature. This reheating reduces the brittleness that results from martensite formation, making the metal tougher while retaining a significant portion of its hardness. The specific temperatures and times used in both the hardening and tempering stages are crucial and depend on the type of metal and the desired properties.

Ruiskutemia is commonly employed in the manufacturing of tools, springs, and other components that require high strength and durability. The controlled application of heat and cooling allows for precise tailoring of the metal's mechanical properties, making it a versatile technique in metallurgy. The term emphasizes the rapid, often spray-like nature of the cooling process, distinguishing it from slower cooling methods.