weichglühende

Weichglühende is a German term that translates to "soft glowing" or "annealing" in English. It refers to a heat treatment process used primarily on metals. In this process, a metal is heated to a specific temperature and then cooled slowly. The goal of weichglühende is to relieve internal stresses, increase ductility, and refine the grain structure of the material. This makes the metal softer and easier to work with, such as for forming or machining.

The exact temperature and cooling rate for weichglühende depend on the type of metal being treated. For example, steel is often heated to a temperature above its critical point and then cooled very slowly, often by leaving it in the furnace. Copper and its alloys are also commonly subjected to annealing to improve their malleability. This process is crucial in manufacturing for preparing materials for further processing, ensuring that they can be shaped without fracturing and that their mechanical properties are optimized. The result is a material that is less brittle and more adaptable to various manufacturing techniques.