eli5, Why does metal become harder when you heat treat it?
In: 2
On a basic level.
A metal is like a brick wall of atoms. The electrons if these atoms get so close together that they repel each other out of their places and begin feely flowing around the metal piece.
If you touch a metal rock in the wire you won’t get electricuted because there across the entire metal there is an equal number of protons and electrons. So there is no net electric charge.
The free flowing nature of electrons makes it like glue. (or cement)
It can be between 2 nuclei both of which are attracting it at the same time like tug of war. So they’re tied together.
Now, that happens, but billions of times. As depending on the metal, each nucleus can hold as many as 4 electrons (tugs of war) at the same time. So they’re all tied together.
And electrons work like cement.
Now. Will a layered brick wall be sturdier, or a brickwar where each brick is in a different orientation?
The layered one will.
That’s exactly what is done when a metal is treated.
Off sized bricks (impurities, mostly carbon) get removed (depending on the product needed they may leave traces)
And then the correct bricks are manipulated into a lattice in some form. (often just hammering)
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