Annealing & softening
Full, process, spheroidize and solution anneals, plus the O temper on aluminum — the treatments that reset a work-hardened or as-rolled part to its softest, most machinable and most formable state.
5 treatments compared
Cycle temperature, the hardness each delivers, furnace time and relative cost, side by side. Open a treatment for its full cycle, specifications, compatible alloys and drawing call-out.
| Treatment | Temperature | Hardness | Cycle time | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Full annealing heats steel through its critical transformation range and then furnace-cools it slowly. | 790–925 °C | 150–220 HB | 8–24 h | $$ Standard |
Aluminum O-temper annealing removes strain hardening and produces the softest standard wrought condition. | 300–415 °C | 20–55 HB | 4–12 h | $$ Standard |
Process annealing is a subcritical softening cycle inserted between cold-working operations. | 550–700 °C | — | 2–6 h | $ Budget |
Spheroidize annealing converts lamellar cementite into rounded carbide particles in a ferrite matrix. | 680–760 °C | 160–230 HB | 10–30 h | $$ Standard |
Solution annealing dissolves detrimental precipitates and restores a single-phase matrix in austenitic stainless and many nickel alloys. | 1,010–1,175 °C | — | 3–8 h | $$$ Premium |
Ranges depend on the alloy and the specification called out. A dash means the treatment sets no target for that value.
Where annealing & softening sits
Cycle temperature against cycle time across the heat-treatment library. Other families appear as faint dots. Click a dot to open its page.
Choosing between them? How to choose a heat treatment — best picks by what the part needs, the five things a drawing call-out must carry, and the questions engineers ask.