waterhardened

Waterhardened refers to a process primarily associated with the treatment of certain types of steel and iron alloys. It involves heating the metal to a specific high temperature and then rapidly cooling it in water or another quenching medium. This rapid cooling causes a change in the microstructure of the metal, typically leading to a much harder and stronger material.

The effectiveness of waterhardening depends on the composition of the alloy, particularly its carbon content. Steels with higher carbon content respond more dramatically to this process. The objective is to create a martensitic microstructure, which is very hard but can also be brittle.

Following waterhardening, tempering is often performed. Tempering involves reheating the metal to a lower temperature and holding it for a period before cooling. This process reduces the brittleness introduced by waterhardening, thereby increasing toughness while retaining a significant portion of the hardness. Without tempering, waterhardened steel can be prone to fracture under stress. The specific temperatures and durations used in both the hardening and tempering stages are critical for achieving the desired mechanical properties for a given application.