work-hardenv.
/wəːkˈhɑːdn/, U.S. /ˈwərkˌhɑrd(ə)n/ Metallurgy.
1. intransitive. Of metal: to become stronger or harder as a result of cold working; to become work-hardened.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > metal in specific state or form > [verb (intransitive)] > undergo tempering or hardening
neala1626
harden1833
temper1881
work-harden1924
strain-harden1959
1924 Engineer 7 Mar. 251/2 It may be that its real function [sc. that of ‘browning’] is to reduce the tendency of the steel to work-harden.
1984 E. P. DeGarmo et al. Materials & Processes in Manuf. (ed. 6) ii. 41 When most materials are plastically deformed, they work-harden; that is, they become harder and the yield-point stress is raised.
2012 T. Giles Automotive Service (ed. 4) xxiv. 346/1 Copper work hardens, which means it gets brittle with repeated flexing.
2. transitive. To make (metal) stronger or harder by cold working; to make work-hardened.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > work with metal [verb (transitive)] > harden, temper, or anneal > in specific way
case-harden1665
chill1831
box-annealc1887
pot anneal1928
work-harden1928
quench-harden1934
solution-treat1940
shot-peen1944
marquench1947
martemper1947
marage1962
cyanide1966
1928 Brit. Patent 301,762 2/1 The metal is work hardened by this rolling process.
1962 Beryllium Copper (Copper Devel. Assoc.) (new ed.) viii. 50 Light cuts tend to work-harden the surface layers of beryllium copper, with consequent wear of the tools.
1987 Guns & Weapons User Summer 13/1 The hammering has ‘work-hardened’ the metal inside and out, so that it is highly resistant to wear.
2008 Lapidary Jrnl. Jewelry Artist Apr. 43 (caption) Compress around the whole wrapped section with the tips of chain nose pliers to work-harden the wire.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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