Definition
decarburization
noun
- the process of removing carbon or carbon compounds from a material, especially steel or iron, typically through heating in an oxidizing atmosphere.
Usage: technical term used in metallurgy and materials science; also spelled decarburisation in British English
Examples
- The steel underwent decarburization during the high-temperature forging process.
- Decarburization can weaken the surface of metal parts if not carefully controlled.
- Engineers must prevent decarburization when heat-treating certain alloys.
- The furnace atmosphere was adjusted to minimize decarburization of the workpiece.
- Decarburization is the opposite of carburization in metallurgical processing.