The earliest blacksmiths in the Bronze and Iron Ages figured out that when they deformed metal through bending or hammering, it became stronger. This process, known as work or strain hardening, is still used widely in metallurgy and manufacturing today to increase the strength of everything from car frames to overhead power wires. But materials scientists have never been able to watch this essential process unfold in real time—until now. The earliest blacksmiths in the Bronze and Iron Ages figured out that when they deformed metal through bending or hammering, it became stronger. This process, known as work or strain hardening, is still used widely in metallurgy and manufacturing today to increase the strength of everything from car frames to overhead power wires. But materials scientists have never been able to watch this essential process unfold in real time—until now. Condensed Matter Phys.org – latest science and technology news stories
Why do materials get stronger when they are deformed? Research sheds light on universal mechanisms of work hardening
