carburize

Advanced 💻 Tech / IT

Definition

A heat treatment process that introduces carbon into the surface of metal (usually steel) to make it harder and more wear-resistant while keeping the interior tough. Basically giving metal a crunchy outer shell while maintaining a chewy center, like the M&M of metallurgy. Used in manufacturing to create parts that can take a beating on the outside but won't shatter.

Example Usage

The engineers carburized the gear teeth so they'd survive another decade of grinding against each other.

Source: Metallurgy and engineering terminology

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