The spelling of the word "casehardens" might seem confusing at first glance. But, it's not that difficult to understand - the word is pronounced as ˈkeɪshɑːrdn̩z. The prefix "case-" means to make something hard or tough. The main verb here is "harden," which means to make something harder. The "-s" at the end is added to make it plural. Therefore, casehardens means to make something hard or tough on the surface by heating and cooling it repeatedly.
"Casehardens" is a transitive verb that refers to the process of hardening the surface of a metal or material, typically steel, to improve its resistance to wear and corrosion. This process involves introducing carbon or other hardening agents to the surface layer of the material, creating a hardened outer layer while maintaining a relatively softer and more ductile core.
The term stems from the concept of creating a "case," or external layer, that is harder than the interior of the material. This is achieved through various techniques, such as heating the metal to a specific temperature range known as the "critical temperature," followed by rapid cooling, usually through quenching in water, oil, or other cooling mediums. Heat treatment methods, like carburizing or nitriding, are often employed to introduce carbon or nitrogen, respectively, into the surface layer to enhance the hardening effects.
The goal of casehardening is to create a material with a hardened surface that can withstand wear, abrasion, and harsh environments, while still maintaining the flexibility and strength of the inner core. This balance between hardness and toughness is crucial in applications where both strength and durability are required, such as gears, bearings, tools, and various mechanical components.
In summary, "casehardens" refers to the process of improving the surface properties of a metal or material by creating a hardened external layer while preserving the desired mechanical properties within the core.
The word "casehardens" is derived from the combination of two words: "case" and "harden".
The word "case" originates from the Old French word "cas", meaning "situation" or "state". It later developed into the Middle English word "case", referring to a situation, condition, or state of affairs. In the context of "casehardens", the term "case" refers to the outer layer or surface of an object.
The word "harden" derives from the Old English word "hardenian", which means "to harden" or "make hard". It is connected to the Proto-Germanic word "hardinōną" and the Old High German word "hartjan".
When combined, "casehardens" describes a specific process of hardening the outer layer of an object while maintaining a relatively softer interior.