The removal of carbon from the surface or interior of steel or iron, usually as an unwanted effect of heating or exposure to oxygen.
From de- + carbon + -ization (American spelling). Developed as a technical term in 19th-century metallurgy as factories mass-produced steel.
Decarburization is one of steel manufacturers' biggest headaches—even a thin layer of carbon loss can make tools fail, so modern mills use special atmospheres to prevent it!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.