What is heat treatment?
Heat treatment is a metalworking process that involves heating, holding, and cooling solid metals or alloys to alter their microstructure and achieve desired properties.

The primary objectives of heat treatment are to eliminate various stress-related defects in the raw material, enhance its workability, and prepare it for subsequent manufacturing operations. Additionally, it significantly improves the mechanical properties of the material, extending its service life. Common heat treatment methods include annealing, normalizing, quenching, and tempering, each serving a specific purpose. For instance, annealing reduces the hardness of steel and increases its ductility, while quenching enhances a workpiece's hardness, strength, and wear resistance. On the other hand, tempering is used to relieve stress induced during quenching, stabilize the microstructure, and ensure dimensional and performance stability of the workpiece.

Overall, heat treatment plays a crucial role in metalworking, offering significant benefits in improving material properties, enhancing product quality, and extending service life.