überhärteten
Überhärteten is a German word that translates to "overhardened" in English. It is primarily used in the context of materials science and engineering to describe a condition where a material, typically a metal, has been hardened beyond its optimal or intended state. This overhardening can occur through processes like heat treatment, such as quenching. While hardening increases a material's strength and resistance to wear, excessive hardening can lead to increased brittleness. This brittleness makes the material more susceptible to fracture or cracking under stress, even at relatively low impact loads.
The phenomenon of überhärteten is a critical consideration in the design and manufacturing of components that