Work hardening

The increase in strength (and therefore hardness) that occurs when metals are deformed in the cold state.

This is generally an unavoidable by-product of certain cold working processes such as rolling, drawing, pressing and spinning. However, it is produced intentionally by shot peening.

This effect can be completely removed by full annealing or partially removed by process annealing or normalising.

Work hardening

The increase in strength (and therefore hardness) that occurs when metals are deformed in the cold state.

This is generally an unavoidable by-product of certain cold working processes such as rolling, drawing, pressing and spinning. However, it is produced intentionally by shot peening.

This effect can be completely removed by full annealing or partially removed by process annealing or normalising.