Strain‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ hardening refers to the process in which  a metal, through permanent deformation, e.g., bending, rolling, or hammering, becomes stronger and harder. Part of the metal is stretched or squeezed; the metal restructures itself internally and thus becomes more resistant to further deformation. Such a process rejuvenates the metal, making it able to withstand the high load condition that comes with it.

Key Features:

• Increased Strength: One of the changes that happens to a metal during the deformation process is the increase in number and interaction of dislocations, which, in turn, leads to the increased strength of the material.
• Improved Hardness: The metal’s surface becomes harder and more resistant to wear, thus increasing its service life when used in friction- or fatigue-loaded components.
• Occurs During Cold Working: Strain hardening is a characteristic change in metals carried out by different procedures at room temperatures, e.g., drawing, forging, rolling, and pressing.

Strain hardening is important because it is capable of modifying the physical properties of metals without altering their compositions. The manufacturers have the opportunity here to make the parts more durable and strong, done simply through deformation steps. Parts like wires, fasteners, springs, and structural sheets are the most affected ones, which are being extensively used in engineering applications that require the use of high-strength materials and whose life cycle is considerably long. Moreover, this process is still up to the task of energy-saving mass production, thus giving time for the introduction of new heat treatments required for other metals and subsequently the production of strong materials demanded for challenging engineering applications.