Strain aging

Aging after deformation is referred to as strain aging (figure 1).

In contrast to this, quench aging refers to aging after annealing and quenching.

In steels, tensile strength, yield strength, elongation at failure, reduction of area after facture, hardness, notch impact strength(see also Impact test) and also magnetic properties like coercive force and remanence can be influenced by aging.

The extent of quench aging depends on the aging period and the harding temperature as well as the degree of strain for strain aging.

  • Fig. 1: Schematic illustration of strain aging (source: V. Schulze and O. Vöhringer: Behavior of internal stress under mechanical or thermal load (reduction of internal stress) DVS seminar - Internal stress in welded joints - causes and classification - 8th November 2004, Braunschweig