Key Features:

• Softening the Material:  The process of full annealing reduces internal stresses and hardness in the material, which makes the material easier to cut, shape, or machine. 
• Increased Ductility:  Full annealing increases the ductility of the metal. Ductility refers to a material's ability to deform without cracking, and is particularly important for operations where forming or bending takes place. 
• Grain Structure: The slow cooling due to full annealing allows the metal to develop a uniform coarse grain structure that improves characteristics of the material for machining operations, mechanical properties, and workability. 

The importance of full annealing lies with its ability to restore ductility and relieve the internal stresses produced as a result of prior manufacturing processes such as rolling, forging, or casting. When manufactured from steel, full annealing is designed to produce a softer, more uniform structure in components that are going to undergo cold working. Full annealing is often used on carbon and alloy steels used in automotive components, structural applications, and machinery usage.