Short answer: Annealing softens steel and relieves internal stress through slow cooling: full annealing above the critical point for softness, process annealing to recrystallize worked metal and stress-relief annealing to stop distortion, arranged via our Heat Treatment Supplier page.
At a Glance
Why Anneal
Annealing reduces hardness for machining and forming and relieves residual stress from welding or cold work, with the stress view in our Stress Relief Guide and base metal in our Carbon Steel Supplier.
Full and Process Annealing
Full annealing heats above Ac3 and cools slowly for maximum softness while process annealing at about 650 C recrystallizes cold-worked sheet, with the hot versus cold route in our Hot vs Cold Worked Guide.
Stress Relief and Spheroidizing
Stress-relief annealing at 550 to 650 C prevents warping and spheroidizing makes high-carbon steel easy to machine, with the property basis in our Hardness and Tensile Guide.
Quality and Certification
Confirm softness with hardness checks and keep documents per our Mill Test Certificate Guide and verification in our Quality Inspection Guide.
Get a Quote
Tell HXSCO your requirements and we will respond with a competitive quote and lead time.
Часто задаваемые вопросы
Full softens more; process recrystallizes.
550 to 650 C for steel.
To make high-carbon steel machinable.
Slightly; it relieves warping.
Yes – hardness report and MTC.
Get an Annealing Quote
HXSCO arranges full, process and stress-relief annealing for your steels with hardness reports. Send grade, size and purpose for a quote.