Precipitation hardening, also known as age hardening, is a heat treatment process used to increase the strength and hardness of certain metal alloys, particularly those that are non-ferrous, such as aluminum, titanium, and nickel-based alloys. The process involves the formation of fine particles or precipitates within the metal matrix, which impede the movement of dislocations and enhance the material's mechanical properties.
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Heat treatment that develops a fine dispersion of a new solid phase in an alloy, impeding dislocation motion. It is distinct from precipitation from a liquid chemical solution. A solid solution may first be formed at high temperature, quenched to retain supersaturation, and then aged to promote solid-state precipitation.