Softening

Softening processes are mainly utilised as intermediate heat treatments. They are used to improve hot and cold working characteristics, to increase machinability, to reduce internal stress due to working, welding etc, and also to condition components for subsequent hardening treatments.

Occasionally they are used to impart particular final properties as with low carbon transformer core material, which is annealed to optimise its magnetic characteristics. Softening occurs when the steel component is heated to the austenitic range and slow cooled.

See also annealing.