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# What's the difference between tempering and hardening?
## Tempering.
Tempering is a process that involves heating the metal to a specified temperature below its melting point and then allowing it to cool slowly. This process helps to relieve the internal stresses created during hardening and also improves the metal's toughness and ductility. .
To temper the metal, it is first hardened by heating it to a high temperature and then quenching it in a cooling medium, such as water or oil. This rapid cooling process hardens the metal by trapping the carbon atoms in a solid solution, increasing its hardness and strength. However, this also makes the metal brittle and prone to cracking.
After hardening, the metal is then tempered by reheating it to a lower temperature. During this tempering process, some of the internal stresses created during hardening are relieved, which helps to reduce the risk of cracking. Additionally, tempering helps to improve the metal's toughness and ductility, making it more suitable for applications where impact resistance is important.
## Hardening.
Hardening, on the other hand, is a process that involves heating the metal to a high temperature and then quenching it in a cooling medium to increase its hardness and strength. This rapid cooling process traps the carbon atoms in a solid solution, which enhances the metal's hardness but also makes it more brittle.
Hardening is typically used for applications where high wear resistance and hardness are required, such as in cutting tools and machine parts. However, the downside of hardening is that it can also make the metal more prone to cracking, which is why tempering is often done after hardening to improve the metal's toughness and ductility.
In summary, the main difference between tempering and hardening lies in their objectives and effects on the metal. Hardening is done to increase the metal's hardness and strength, while tempering is done to improve its toughness and ductility. Together, these processes help to achieve the desired balance of properties for different applications.
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