temper metal crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're stuck on the clue "temper metal" in your crossword puzzle, you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find a comprehensive list of possible solutions, categorized by letter count, along with detailed explanations to help you understand the context.
Solutions for "temper metal crossword clue" by Letter Count
6 Letters
ANNEAL: To heat a metal or glass and allow it to cool slowly, in order to remove internal stresses and toughen it, improving its ductility.
HARDEN: To make or become hard or harder, often through heat treatment, increasing resistance to deformation, which can then be followed by tempering.
QUENCH: To rapidly cool hot metal, especially steel, by immersing it in a liquid, a critical step in the hardening process before tempering to reduce brittleness.
TEMPER: To improve the hardness, elasticity, and other properties of (steel or other metal) by reheating and then cooling it.
More About "temper metal crossword clue"
The clue "temper metal" refers to a crucial process in metallurgy, particularly in the treatment of steel. Tempering is a heat treatment technique applied to ferrous alloys, such as steel, to achieve greater toughness by decreasing the hardness of the alloy. This reduction in hardness is usually accompanied by an increase in ductility and a reduction in brittleness, making the metal more suitable for various applications.
During the tempering process, the metal is heated to a temperature below its critical point (typically below 727 °C for steel) and then allowed to cool, often in air. The specific temperature and duration of heating influence the final properties of the metal. For instance, lower tempering temperatures can lead to higher hardness but lower toughness, while higher temperatures result in increased toughness but reduced hardness.
Understanding these terms is key not only for metalworking but also for solving crosswords. Crossword constructors often use related terms or specific actions within a broader category to create clues, making knowledge of synonyms and related processes highly beneficial.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider Synonyms and Processes: For clues like "temper metal," think broadly about related actions (anneal, harden, quench) and the overall goal (modifying metal properties). Crosswords often use synonyms or specific steps in a larger process.
- Check Letter Count First: Always match potential answers to the given letter count. This immediately narrows down your options and prevents you from trying words that don't fit.
- Think About Context: Is the puzzle themed around science, industry, or everyday actions? The context can sometimes hint at whether a technical term or a more common word is expected.
- Use Cross-References: If you have intersecting words, use the letters you've already filled in from other clues. These cross-references are your most powerful tool for confirming or ruling out answers.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'temper metal' mean in a metallurgical context?
Tempering metal, particularly steel, is a heat treatment process that increases its toughness and ductility, reducing the brittleness that can result from hardening. It involves heating the metal to a specific temperature below its critical point and then cooling it.
Why is 'ANNEAL' a common answer for 'temper metal'?
Annealing is a specific type of heat treatment that involves heating a metal to a high temperature and slowly cooling it. This process relieves internal stresses, makes the metal softer, more ductile, and tougher, which aligns with the broad concept of 'tempering' to improve metal properties.
Can 'HARDEN' or 'QUENCH' also be answers?
Yes, 'HARDEN' refers to making metal harder, often through heat treatment, and 'QUENCH' is a critical step in the hardening process, involving rapid cooling. While 'tempering' specifically reduces brittleness after hardening, these terms are all part of the broader family of metal heat treatment processes that 'temper' or modify the metal's properties.