Quenching vs. Tempering — What's the Difference?

In materials science, quenching is the rapid cooling of a workpiece in water, oil or air to obtain certain material properties. A type of heat treating, quenching prevents undesired low-temperature processes, such as phase transformations, from occurring.

To modify by the addition of a moderating element; moderate

To put out (a fire, for example); extinguish.

To bring to a desired consistency, texture, hardness, or other physical condition by blending, admixing, or kneading

To suppress; squelch

To harden or strengthen (metal or glass) by application of heat or by heating and cooling.

To slake; satisfy

To strengthen through experience or hardship; toughen

To cool (hot metal) by thrusting into water or other liquid.

(Music) To adjust (the pitch of an instrument) to a temperament.

(physics) The extinction of any of several physical properties.

To be or become tempered.

(metallurgy) The rapid cooling of a hot metal object, by placing it in a liquid, in order to harden it.

A state of mind or emotion; disposition

(astronomy) A process in which a galaxy loses cold gas, thus strongly suppressing star formation.

Calmness of mind or emotions; composure

(botany) The dissipation of energy from light in excess of what can be used for photosynthesis.

A tendency to become easily angry or irritable

Present participle of quench

Anger; rage

The act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning;

A characteristic general quality; tone

The condition of being tempered.

The degree of hardness and elasticity of a metal, chiefly steel, achieved by tempering.

A modifying substance or agent added to something else.

(Archaic) A middle course between extremes; a mean.

Present participle of temper

The act by which something is tempered.

The process of giving the requisite degree of hardness or softness to a substance, as iron and steel; especially, the process of giving to steel the degree of hardness required for various purposes, consisting usually in first plunging the article, when heated to redness, in cold water or other liquid, to give an excess of hardness, and then reheating it gradually until the hardness is reduced or drawn down to the degree required, as indicated by the color produced on a polished portion, or by the burning of oil.

Hardening something by heat treatment

Moderating by making more temperate