Hardening (curing)

1. Solidification of mold materials and core molding materials by chemical or hydraulic reactions in cold, warm or even hot environments. The binders generally used for this purpose are made on organic or inorganic basis.

2. The increase of hardness by quench hardening or case hardening of ferrous materials or by precipitation hardening (curing) of ferrous and non-ferrous metal alloys is also referred to as hardening.

Additional references:
Curing
Hardness test
Heat treatment of hardenable aluminum alloys