caseharden
Make exterior impervious
To caseharden metal is to harden its outer surface while leaving the interior softer and more flexible—typically by heating steel in contact with carbon.
The technique produces objects that resist surface wear but won't shatter under stress.
Figuratively, to be casehardened is to be toughened by experience, emotionally impervious: Years of rejection had casehardened him against criticism.
Surface-hardening heat treatment
- quenchingRapid cooling process
- nitridingNitrogen-based surface treatment
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
- temperingControlled heating and cooling
annealing · pearlite · microstructure · furnace · interstitial
Make harder to damage
- inureAcclimatize to difficulty
- desensitizeReduce responsiveness over time
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- fortifyMake stronger against threat
season · temper · callous · embolden · grit · resilience · endurance · mettle
Able to withstand friction
- abrasion-resistantUnharmed by rubbing
- corrosion-resistantWithstands oxidation and decay
- impact-resistantAble to withstand forceful contact
- coatingApplied surface covering
armor · shielding · longevity · toughness · brittleness
carburizing
Surface-hardening heat treatment
- quenchingRapid cooling process
- nitridingNitrogen-based surface treatment
- diffusionPassive molecular spreading
tempering · annealing · pearlite · microstructure · furnace · interstitial
toughen
Make harder to damage
- inureAcclimatize to difficulty
- desensitizeReduce responsiveness over time
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
fortify · season · temper · callous · embolden · grit · resilience · endurance · mettle · steadfastness
wear-resistant
Able to withstand friction
- abrasion-resistantUnharmed by rubbing
- corrosion-resistantWithstands oxidation and decay
- impact-resistantAble to withstand forceful contact
coating · armor · shielding · longevity · toughness · brittleness