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HEAT TREATMENT
Heating/cooling in a controlled environment and conditions (temperature, time, pressure or speed) to improve mechanical properties such as hardness, strength and elasticity of the material.
Heat treatment temper: The steel is heated to a temperature slightly above it's critical temperature and cooled rapidly. It is usually used to increase the strength and hardness of the steel.
Tempering heat annealing: It is only performed on materials that have been previously hardened. The hardness of steels is reduced and toughness is improved.
Standardized heat treatment: It is performed to preserve the normal appearance, absence of internal stresses and a uniform distribution of carbon. It is normally used as a preliminary step to quenching.