Precipitation hardening is a heat treatment process that increases the strength and hardness of an alloy by forming fine precipitates within its microstructure. This process typically involves solution treating the alloy, quenching it to retain solute atoms in a supersaturated solid solution, and then aging it to allow precipitates to form. This mechanism of strengthening is particularly significant in metallurgy, as it enhances the mechanical properties of materials used in various applications.
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