Hardenability

Hardenability vs. Hardness
Points : Hardenability vs. Hardness, Definition Definition Although the terms hardness and hardenability appear similar, there exists no direct relationship between them. This fact sometimes causes considerable confusion in the thinking of students of metallurgy, hence, a brief definition of hardenability that will suffice to distinguish between the two term’s follows. Hardenability can be described as the ability or the susceptibility of a steel to be hardened by quenching. This property determines the depth and distribution of hardness induced by quenching, hardness is described as the resistance to penetration and abrasive wear. Perhaps the distinction can be made clearer by presenting an analogy. Consider an athlete, a man competing in the mile race. With proper Training and conditioning, he can run the mile. How well he runs it, is another story. Whether or not he can ever be a champion depends on his physical attributes such as metabolism and pulse rate. The inherited physical characteristics that determine the champion runner are analogous to the inherent characteristics of the steel the determine the degree of hardenability.