glossary

A group of thermal cutting processes that severs or removes metal by melting with the heat of an arc between an electrode and the work piece.

Process of holding metals or alloys at room temperature after subjecting them to shaping or heat treatment, for the purpose of increasing dimensional stability or to improve their hardness and strength through structural changes, as by precipitation.

An arc cutting process in which metals to be cut are melted by the heat of carbon arc and the molten metal is removed by a blast of air.

Characteristic of a steel that it becomes partially or fully hardened (martensitic) when cooled in air from above its critical point. Not necessarily applicable when the object to be hardened has considerable thickness.

American Iron and Steel Institute