Annealing

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Annealing is the operation by which the qualities of softness, maleability and machineability are achieved. It produces the most stress free state by allowing as much carbon (cementite) to diffuse from the ferrite as possible. It is accomplished by heating a steel to an austenitic condition and then cooling slow enough for thorough diffusion, resulting in the microstructure pearlite. Another process known as spheroidizing is used to create a very soft and machineable state in steel by producing spheroidal cementite microstructures instead of the lamellar structure of pearlite.



For more information on annealing common steels follow the links below:
1080
1084
1095
5160
52100
O1
L6
W1
W2

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