Carburisation

/ˌkɑːr.bjər.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ noun

Definition

The process of introducing carbon into the surface of steel or iron to increase its hardness; the British spelling of carburization.

Etymology

From carburise + -ation. British spelling variant using '-isation' instead of '-ization'. The root comes from carbon + -ate + -ise (to make or perform).

Kelly Says

Carburisation was revolutionary for creating case-hardened steel—a technique where the outer layer becomes incredibly hard (for wear resistance) while the inner core stays flexible (for shock absorption). Ancient samurai swords used similar principles centuries before modern chemistry explained why.

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