Tempering

Tempering is a heat treatment process used to improve the properties of metals, especially steel. After hardening, steel can become very brittle, so tempering involves reheating it to a lower temperature and then cooling it. This reduces internal stresses and increases toughness and ductility, making the metal more durable and less likely to break under stress. Essentially, tempering balances hardness with flexibility, ensuring the metal is strong yet less prone to cracking, which is vital for tools, machinery, and structural components.