HeattreatingisagroupofHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_process"\o"Industrialprocess"industrialandHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalworking"\o"Metalworking"metalworkingprocessesusedtoaltertheHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_property"\o"Physicalproperty"physical,andsometimesHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_property"\o"Chemicalproperty"chemical,propertiesofamaterial.ThemostcommonapplicationisHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallurgy"\o"Metallurgy"metallurgical.Heattreatmentsarealsousedinthemanufactureofmanyothermaterials,suchasHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass"\o"Glass"glass.Heattreatmentinvolvestheuseofheatingorchilling,normallytoextremetemperatures,toachieveadesiredresultsuchashardeningorsofteningofamaterial.HeattreatmenttechniquesincludeHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annealing_(metallurgy)"\o"Annealing(metallurgy)"annealing,HYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_hardening"\o"Casehardening"casehardening,HYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation_strengthening"\o"Precipitationstrengthening"precipitationstrengthening,HYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempering"\o"Tempering"temperingandHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quench"\o"Quench"quenching.Itisnoteworthythatwhilethetermheattreatmentappliesonlytoprocesseswheretheheatingandcoolingaredoneforthespecificpurposeofalteringpropertiesintentionally,heatingandcoolingoftenoccurincidentallyduringothermanufacturingprocessessuchashotformingorwelding.PhysicalprocessesSteelcastingsafterundergoing12hour1,200°C(2,190°F)heattreatmentatHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwin_Steel_Castings_Ltd"\o"GoodwinSteelCastingsLtd"GoodwinSteelCastingsLtdMetallicmaterialsconsistofaHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microstructure"\o"Microstructure"microstructureofsmallHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal"\o"Crystal"crystalscalled"grains"orHYPERLINK"http://en.wikipedia.org/w