An imprecise term used to denote a treatment given cold-worked material to reduce its strength to a controlled level or to effect stress relief. To be meaningful, the type of material, the degree of cold work, and the time-temperature schedule must be sta ...

See chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition and sputtering.

A cell in which chemical change is the source of electrical energy. It usually consists of two dissimilar conductors in contact with each other and with an electrolyte. or of two similar conductors in contact with each other and with dissimilar electrolyt ...

An atmosphere in an area of heavy industry with soot, fly ash, and sulfur compounds as the principal constituents.

Loss of carbon from the surface layer of a carbon-containing alloy due to reaction with one or more chemical substances in a medium that contacts the surface. See also dealloying.

Deposition of a metal or compound on a heated surface by reduction or decomposition of a volatile compound at a temperature below the melting points of the deposit and the base material. The reduction is usually accomplished by a gaseous reducing agent su ...

The phenomenon leading to fracture under repeated or fluctuating stresses having a maximum value less than the tensile strength of the material. Fatigue fractures are progressive and grow under the action of the fluctuating stress.

A coating process, similar to gas carburizing and carbonitriding, whereby a reactant atmosphere gas is fed into a processing chamber where it decomposes at the surface of the workpiece, liberating one material for either absorption by, or accumulation on ...

Removing the thick layer of oxides formed on some metals at elevated temperatures.

A process of removing soil, scale, or corrosion products from a metal surface by subjecting it as an electrode to an electric current in an electrolytic bath.

Numerous, very fine cracks in a coating or at the surface of a metal part. Checks may appear during processing or during service and are most often associated with thermal treatment or thermal cycling. Also called check marks. checking, or heat checks.

The maximum current density that can be used to obtain a desired electrode reaction without undue interference such as from polarization.

A form of deterioration that is distributed more or less uniformly over a surface; See uniform corrosion.

The selective attack of one or more components of a solid solution alloy; eg. dezincification, dealumination etc. See dealloying.

(1) A reaction in which there is an increase in valence resulting from a loss of electrons. Contrast with reduction. (2) A corrosion reaction in which the corroded metal forms an oxide; usually applied to reaction with a gas containing elemental oxygen, s ...

An instrument for indicating or measuring a small electric current by means of a mechanical motion derived from electromagnetic or electrodynamic forces produced by the current.

The maximum cyclic stress value that a metal can with stand for a specified number of cycles or length of time in a given corrosive environment. See corrosion fatigue strength

(1) A type of corrosion attack (deterioration) uniformly distributed over metal surface. (2) Corrosion that proceeds at approximately the same rate over a metal surface. Also called general corrosion.

The ability of a solution to give satisfactory plating at very low current densities. a condition that exists in recesses and pits. This term suggests an ability to cover, but not necessarily to build up, a uniform coating, whereas throwing power suggests ...

Direct current supplied by a device employing a power source external to the electrode system of a cathodic protection installation.