A combination of heating and cooling
operations, timed and applied to a metal
or alloy in the solid state in a way that will
produce desired properties.

Heating to a suitable temperature, holding targeted temperature long enough to reduce residual stresses (caused eg. by welding) and then cooling slowly enough to minimize the development of new stresses.

The heating to and holding at a suitable temperature followed by cooling at a suitable rate primarily to soften material.


Heating and cooling to produce a spherodal or globular microstructure of carbide within steel.


An annealing process performed on ferrous alloys at a temperature below Ac1.

Heating an alloy to a suitable temperature, holding at that temperature long enough to cause one or more constituents to enter into solid solution, and then cooling rapidly enough to hold these constituents in solution. (example: Stainless Steel).


Heating of steel above the upper-critical temperature followed by cooling in still air to room temperature to produce a harder and stronger steel than full annealing, also to improve machinability, modify and refine cast dendritic structures and to refine the grain structure.


Rapid cooling to ensure a substantial amount of austenite transforms to martensite thus hardening an alloy. This can be achieved at Harchris through the mediums of water, oil or air. This process is followed by a Tempering operation to obtain specific properties.